ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 203 



generally uniform. Barley participates in the rise, the Elham sales, 

 though less in amount, forming an index. The best malt reaches a 

 very high price in South Wales. The price of oats is not excessive. 

 The rise in rye, scanty information about which is procured, is not 

 quite commensurate with that of wheat. Beans, &c. are cheaper, the 

 Elham sales, which are the fullest, being made at low rates. 



1330. The evidence large and widespread. Wheat is still dearer, 

 the highest rates, los. and IQS. 8d., coming from Gloucester and 

 Glamorgan. In the east and south, however, prices are less. The 

 Cuxham account is imperfect, but shews a stationary price from 

 September to the beginning of May, and a considerable increase 

 after that time, the rate reaching qs. on the 2pth of the month. The 

 barley sales at Elham indicate a steady rise till June. Best malt is 

 very dear in South Wales, and commands a high price everywhere. 

 Oats are higher in particular places. Rye is generally less than its 

 relative price, but, as is the case with other grain, dear in Wales. 

 Beans, &c., except in one locality, are low. 



1331. The evidence is of the same character, including, however, 

 an account from Durham. Wheat prices are still very high. The 

 greatest price reached in the Cuxham records is 8.r. 8d., but the 

 purchase is undated. Between Nov. 30th, when it stood at 8s., and 

 June 29th, when it reached YJ. 4</., the price rises and falls. Some 

 of the wheat is old, but it fetches a lower price. The highest figures 

 are found at Woodhall in Suffolk, where los. 8d. is paid. The 

 Durham prices are high, and so are those of Basingstoke. Barley is 

 high and fully up to proportion. Oats, except in particular spots, are 

 not excessive, but some quotations are very high. Rye fully follows 

 wheat. Beans are high. Peas lower, but seed-vetches are ex- 

 cessively dear. 



1332. The number of places contributing to the information for 

 this year is the largest of all, embracing most of the counties below 

 the Trent and westwards as far as Devonshire. The Welsh estates 

 are also represented. The price of wheat is low, and the fluctuations 

 at Cuxham, Oxford, and Wolford, on which estates sales are dated, 

 are slighter than any year hitherto recorded. At Cuxham the rate, 

 passing through several variations, begins and ends at 5^., a price 

 which is singularly uniform in very distant localities. The Wolford 

 prices, unaffected by the circumstance which makes the Cuxham 

 return so sensitive, viz. the easy transit by water to London, are 

 lower, but only slightly ; while the Oxford prices take an intermediate 

 position. Two localities, Clare in Suffolk and Chene in Kent, give 



