ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 199 



a quintuple rise in many places, and that of 1316 almost a quadruple 

 of the general average. 



1317. The evidence 'collected for this year is very wide and full 

 It ranges from the Isle of Wight to Durham, and from Glamorgan to 

 Cambridgeshire. It could not be expected that the effect of the 

 previous scarcity should disappear from the year which immediately 

 followed it, and consequently we find that the average is raised by 

 the high rates of seed-wheat, and of such as was purchased during 

 harvest. But the crop, though far better than that which had been 

 gathered for the past two years, was plainly deficient, the highest 

 prices being quoted from Beds. The sales, too, are scanty. But in 

 the course of the summer the rate falls very considerably, and even 

 approaches an average in Cambridgeshire, Notts, York, and Surrey. 

 This fall must be ascribed as much, it would appear, to the prospects 

 of the coming harvest as to the existence of any real plenty in the 

 harvest of the year before us. The price is highest in the autumn, 

 and declines rapidly towards June and July. Barley fully participates 

 in the fall, the same circumstance, viz. the sales ordinarily taking 

 place in spring, producing its effect on the average. Oats, though 

 cheaper, are still high. Rye has fallen still more than wheat, having 

 reached a price which is not, comparatively speaking, excessive ; and 

 beans, &c., except in some localities, are characterized by a similar 

 reduction. 



1318. The character of the evidence for this year is generally 

 identical with that of the year before, though not quite so abundant. 

 Wheat falls considerably below the average. Commencing at Cuxham 

 with 5^. in August, it progressively declines to 2s. 8d. in June, from 

 whence, however, it experiences a rebound in July. The same or a 

 similar reduction is discernible in all the localities, though the 

 Glamorganshire prices are higher than elsewhere. Barley is also 

 low. Oats are similarly affected, prices being on the whole very 

 moderate. Rye is proportionately reduced, as also are beans, &c. 

 The higher rates alluded to above as prevailing in South Wales 

 apply to all kinds of produce with the exception of oats. The effect 

 therefore of the scarcity has ceased. 



1319. The evidence is derived chiefly from the south and south- 

 east, the most northerly county supplying facts being Shropshire, with 

 the exception of one entry from Newcastle. Wheat, beginning with 

 the low prices of the previous summer, rises to an average over the 

 greater part of the localities, but is still higher in South Wales. Few 

 entries of barley are derived from the last-named region, and the price 



