THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



275 



REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



The month of February has brought with it a 

 fair portion of rain, and lessened the anxieties that 

 were being entertained respecting the future ; but 

 a heavy arrear is yet due, and required to raise the 

 wells to their usual height as a security for the 

 summer months ; and should the fall be deferred 

 beyond April, much inconvenience must be felt — 

 should no positive injury result. But while the 

 rain has been deficient, the weather has been so 

 mild and the atmosphere so surcharged with 

 moisture as greatly to damage the condition of the 

 wheat thrashed, notwithstanding the fine state in 

 which it had been harvested ; and this circum- 

 stance happening at the time when a low and un- 

 remunerating range of prices has long prevailed 

 has proved quite a calamity to growers, as it has 

 deprived them of the common opportunity of 

 realizing at will. Such, indeed, has been the de- 

 terioration of the samples offering on the London 

 markets, that some millers have for weeks together 

 abstained from purchasing; and others, to keep up 

 the quantity of their first-class flour, have been 

 paying 55s. to 58s. per qr. for fiv.^ Danzig descrip- 

 tions for mixing ; and these sorts are now in such 

 small compass, both here and in the places of 

 growth, that should the March winds fail in their 

 season, it will be difficult to maintain the high 

 quality of town manufacture. This state of things, 

 with heavy markets in France, has kept prices 

 from the expected rally on the turn of the year ; 

 but the current rates in the exporting countries 

 have been little favourable to business with this 

 country, and imports lately have been on a 

 diminished scale, with almost no winter in the 

 Baltic ; while American prices remain so much be- 

 yond our own, that shipments of flour from France 

 have commenced for New York and Canada, with 

 a very fair margin for profit. The state of politics 

 has not as yet influenced prices, and a pacific set- 

 tlement seeming more probable than recently, the 

 threatened storm may pass over ; but, with the 

 gigantic preparations made by France, Austria, and 

 other countries, should a spark light on the mate- 

 rials prepared, the waste and damage to countries 

 growing corn must soon seriously enhance the 

 value of alFsorts of grain and Jorage. 



The deficiency of the fall of rain for the last two 

 years is a circumstance, too," that should not be 

 overlooked. Should this deficiency^not be made 

 up, and only an average supply be forthcoming, 



will this be sufficient imder such circumstances ? 

 And should the fall of rain now due be added to an 

 average supply, may it not come too violently or 

 continuously to suit the corn ? And, on the other 

 hand, if another year's drought be commenced, 

 will not the crops be in jeopardy? These consi- 

 derations, we think, should make holders pause 

 before they accept unremuuerative rates ; but 

 where such an abundance has been reaped, as some 

 aflSrm, as to make present prices remunerative, 

 the case is altered, and the principle — " Sell and 

 repent," with something in your pocket, may still 

 hold good. 



We annex a fist of current prices in several 

 places of export : Choice 62 to 64 lbs. per bushel 

 red wheat at Louvain was worth 43s. to 44s. per 

 qr., it being of the same value at Antwerp ; new 

 white Belgian 61 to 62 lbs. per bushel, 42s. ; 63 lbs. 

 red Mecklenburg wheat at Hambro' was up to 45s. 

 6d. free on board ; 61 to 62 lbs. Holstein, 42s. 6d. 

 to 44s. Fine wheat at Paris only brought 38s. per 

 qr., and flour 29s. per sack. Fine Polish at Am- 

 sterdam was quoted 51s. 6d, per qr. : at Berhn the 

 top quotation was 49s. per qr. The rates for the 

 best high-mixed at Danzig were 52s. per qr. free 

 on board, with little offering. Native wheat had 

 risen at Leghorn to 51s. 6d., but good useful 

 Marianopoh could be procured at 39s. to 43s. per 

 qr. Algiers was as high as 46s. for hard native 

 wheat. At Odessa, though business was calm, 

 Pohsh wheat was quoted 38s. 4d. ; and the best 

 Ghirka, 39s. 5d. per qr. Soft Ghirka at Taganrog 

 was worth 33s. 6d. ; but the prices at New York 

 for Western red were 46s. 8d. per 480 lbs., and 

 white Michigan 50s. per 480 lbs., which, at 62 lbs. 

 per bushel, equals 51s. 8d. per qr., while the top 

 price of Missouri flour was equal to 50s. per sack, 

 or 10s. above London quotations. 



In the present four weeks' review we have in- 

 cluded the 31stof January— it being on a Monday, 

 leaving out the last day of February, to be in time 

 for publication. 



The first Monday in London commenced on a 

 fair supply of English and short one of foreign 

 wheat. The morning brought but a moderate show 

 of samples from Kent and Essex : those that were 

 dry went oft' readily at fully the former rates. The 

 sales in foreign were limited, in consequence of the 

 demands of holders, and prices were rather in their 

 favour. Most of the country markets were well 



