184 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



moderate, with very little foreipfn excepting low 

 Egyptian. Very few samples appeared in the 

 course of the morning from Kent and Essex, and 

 the last country reports being hvely, millers readily 

 took all fine dry qualities at an advance of Is. to 

 2s. per qr. The business in foreign was limited in 

 consequence of the increased demands of holders, 

 but the prices made in retail were good. Most of 

 the country markets responded fully to this ad- 

 vance, including Hull, Manchester, Spalding, 

 Gloucester, and Bristol; but Birmingham, Newark, 

 and Louth, and some other places, were only Is. 

 ])cr qr. higher, while Market Harhorough and 

 Gainsborough advanced 2s, to 3s. per qr. Liver- 

 l)ool in the course of the week was 3d. per 70lbs. 

 higher, '2d. being gained on the Tuesday, and id, 

 more on the final market. 



The second Monday, with a somewhat better 

 supply of foreign wheat, had rather less of home- 

 growth, though the morning's show from Kent 

 ar.d Essex was increased. The market opened 

 with factors raising their demands ; but it was scon 

 found that nothing beyond the previous rates would 

 bo given, except for some picked and scarce quali- 

 ties, and some red suitable for shipment to Por- 

 tugal, which sold at 42s. to 45s. ; a clearance of 

 the bulk eventually took place at the former rates. 

 This continued firmness had the effect in the 

 country of increasing the supplies, which with the 

 damp weather prevailing, was connected with a 

 deteriorated condition, and a reserve on the part 

 of millers. Birmingham noted a decline of Is. 

 per qr.; but Sheffield was rather improved, not- 

 withstanding the general dulness. The week closed 

 very calm in London, the inquiry for Portugal and 

 contract out, alone preventing a fall, Liverpool 

 on Tuesday, improved to the extent of id. to 2d, 

 per 70lbs., but lost tone on Friday, with but a re- 

 tail trade. 



The third Monday had moderate receipts, and 

 former prices were generally maintained for a while; 

 but with a fair show from Kent, and disposition to 

 sell, the rates eventually were fully Is, per qr, re- 

 duced, still with the qualification of a generally 

 inferior condition arising from the mildness and 

 damp. In the country generally the same state of 

 trade obtained, and the average decline was Is. 

 per qr., though some places only reported a dull 

 state of trade, at previous prices, Liverpool gave 

 way on Tuesday ]d. to 2d. per 70lbs., with only a 

 retail business on the following market, at scarcely 

 former rates. 



The fourth Monday had fair supplies of English 

 growth, and a somewhat heavy arrival of French, 

 with little other foreign. The near counties sent up 

 but few additions in the morning; but the condition 

 of nearly all the English on show was wretchedly 



bad, and was therefore scarcely a criterion of the 

 state of trade. No change in the rates was, there- 

 fore, quoted, as picked parcels of red had made 

 45s. to 46s., and really fine white was equally high. 

 In the country, reports were generally dull. 



The four weeks' imports into London were 

 23,711 qrs. English and 41,513 qrs. foreign, 

 against 13,618 qrs, English and 66,644 qrs, foreign 

 during the first four weeks in 1858, showing an 

 average of 16,306 weekly, against 20,065 qrs,, or 

 decrease per week of 3,759 qrs. The four weeks' 

 sales noted were 396,405 qrs,, against 381,981 qrs. 

 in 1858. The four weeks' imports into the 

 principal towns were 169,973 qrs. wheat and flour. 

 The total imports for December were 286,906 qrs. 

 wheat, and 237,526 cwts. flour, for the United 

 Kingdom. 



The flour trade, after slight fluctuations in country 

 and foreign descriptions, has closed Is, per sack 

 less than at the commencement of the month, the 

 town trade having maintained the top price of 

 40s. per sack all through. Norfolks though held 

 at 27s. 6d, were scarcely worth over 27s. per sack 

 at the last market, and the best French were barely 

 worth 32s. per sack. Scarcely any fine American 

 is on the market, it being dearer at home. The 

 stocks of foreign are very low, and estimated at 

 only 21,000 brls,, with 12,000 sacks French on 

 the 1st January, The imports for the four weeks 

 into London have been 77,556 sacks from the 

 country, 5,213 brls. from America, and 7,977 

 sacks from France, &c,, against 71,217 sacks 

 country, 20,696 brls. American, and 9,570 sacks 

 foreign, in January 1858, showing a decrease in 

 brls, of 15,483, 



The barley trade, with good supphes of foreign, 

 and r.Toderate arrivals of home-growth, has very 

 little altered as respects value. The scarcity of 

 really fine malting samples on the London market 

 has continued, and prices have consequently been 

 supported, making the value on a par with red 

 wheat of the first quality, but the heavy supplies 

 of inferior sorts from the Black Sea and Medi- 

 terranean have kept these latter below the 

 range of Oats of fair quality, as 50 lbs, per 

 bushel has been selling at 22s, 3d, The heaviest 

 markets in these descriptions were the first and last, 

 but the relatively low price has greatly increased the 

 consumption, and the rise in oats has occasion- 

 ed a large consumption. Sweet heavy Swedish 

 and Danish sorts have been steady throughout. 

 The deficiency of our own crop being more ap- 

 parent with the season's advance, we think there 

 is a probability of an increase in the rates, though 

 malting sorts can hardly be dearer with the com- 

 petition of wheat, but these must now be in small 

 compass. The imports into London for the four 



