188 KEPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



interior markets v.itli which Cincinnati traders have now no direct 

 relations. 



_F?o«r.— Eeceipts of 1875-'76, G36,504 barrels, a decline of Gl,074 bar- 

 rels, or nearly 9 per cent., from the previous twelve months. Shipments, 

 390,217 barrels, a reduction of 77,213 barrels, or 16 per cent. The amount 

 of unsound flour received was greater, perhaps, than during any previous 

 year, on account of tbe poor wheat-crops of 1875. To meet the defi- 

 ciency, winter-wheat from Michigan and IsTorthern Oliio, which usually 

 sought other markets, was imported by the millers ; but the success of this 

 expedient was by no means remarkable. An increased amount of spring- 

 wheat flour from the Northwest was marketed here, and an increased de- 

 mand for this article by bakers and families for home consumption was the 

 result. The better grades of winter-wheat flour steadily gained ground 

 in i)ublic favor; even the poorer classes are preferring high grades. 

 Poor flour was abundant during the year, realizing but a limited demand 

 for shipment, especially as Cincinnati prices were relatively higher than 

 those of many other markets. The increased consumption of high grades 

 left a smaller surplus for shipment. For these reasons and others, the 

 shipments fell off in greater proportion than tlie receipts. Very little of 

 speculation disturbed the regular course of the trade. The market dur- 

 ing the year was languid. Duriug the months immediately following the 

 harvest of 1875 there was some activity, but this subsided after it was 

 found that the reports of bad condition of the crop were greatly exag- 

 gerated. During the last five years family flour averaged $7.32 per barrel 

 in 1871-'72, $7.40.8 in 1872-'73, $G.G0.4 in 1873-'74, 85.43 in 1874-'75, 

 $5.52.3 in 1875-'7G. Extra flour, during the same vears, respectively 

 averaged $7.14.G, $7.15, $0.25.5, $5.18.3, and $4.05.0"; superfine, duriug 

 the same years, averaged $0.00, $5.50i, $5.00^, $4.41.7, and $3.<m. 



Wieat — The crop of 1875 was interior, but a large surplus remained 

 from the excellent crop of 1874 in first hands, which came into market 

 in such quantities as to prevent a great rise in prices. It was also mixed 

 with the imperfect new grain to improve the quality of the flour, but a 

 considerable portion of tlio latter was found entirely unfit for milling, 

 and hence was thrown into the feeding-trough. As the harvest of 1870 

 approached, the fine prospects of the crop greatly depressed the price of 

 the old one. The dem.and, however, was good during the whole year. 

 The receipts were 1,052,952 bushels, a decline from the preceding year 

 of 82,430 bushels, or over 7 per cent. Shij)ments, 558,252 bushels; a 

 decline of 42,370 bushels, or 7 per cent. As but little wheat was author- 

 itatively graded during the year, it is diflioult to compare i)rices. Sales 

 were generally made by sample, and the average on the full range of 

 samples was $1.10,17 per bushel, against $1.10,0 the preceding year. 



Corn. — The corn trade exceeded that of any i^revious year, receipts, 

 4,115,504 bushels, an increase of 420,003 bushels, or over 11 per cent.; 

 shipments, 1,028,325 bushels, an increase of 432,410 bushels, or 72 per 

 cent. The crop of 1875 was very abundant, but in many regions de- 

 pendent on the Cincinnati market it had not been secured in very 

 good order, and hence it presented a very inferior quality. As but a 

 small i)roportion could be graded as Ko. 2, a new grade (^o. 3.) was 

 established by authority of "the chamber of commerce. At the open- 

 ing of the commercial year the market showed considerable strength, 

 prime mixed ear being quoted at 70 to 71 cents per bushel ; but all 

 through the year prices declined, with some partial reactions. The closing 

 quotations were 44 to 47 cents. The annual average prices of this kind 

 of corn for the last five commercial years, respectively, were as follows : 

 1871-'72, 45 cents; 1872-73, 42.0 cents; 1873-'74, 00.5 cents; 187'l-'75, 

 72.52 cents ; 1875-'7G, 51.02 cents. 



