ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 205 



Letherhead furnishing one quotation in April at 6s. 8d. Barley is 

 proportionately dearer. Oats experience a corresponding rise. Rye 

 follows wheat closely. The evidence as to beans, &c. is very 

 abundant. It does not appear that these crops were deficient, as 

 all are below the rate of the previous year ; and vetches in particular 

 are very cheap. 



1336. The evidence is plentiful, but is chiefly from the eastern, 

 south-eastern, and midland counties. The highest price of wheat is 

 reached in February and May, as may be seen from the Cuxham 

 account, and from some others. In the neighbourhood of London 

 wheat touches 6s. in the latter part of the spring ; but, to all appear- 

 ance, no other place sells at so large an amount. Barley, large sales 

 of which are effected in Elham and Oxford, is very low. Oats follow 

 general prices, as also rye. Beans and vetches are very cheap, but 

 peas are a little above the proportion. 



1337. The evidence is not quite so abundant, but of the same 

 character as before. The Cuxham account is wanting, but it will be 

 clear from other localities that prices of wheat were still depressed by 

 anticipations of an abundant harvest in the coming autumn. The 

 highest price is found at Ponteland in Northumberland, and Wol- 

 richston in Warwickshire. But even here we find only small sales at 

 5^., while some of the largest are effected at from 2s. yd. to 3^. 4^. 

 Barley, too, is sold at rates fully proportioned to that of wheat, 

 having hitherto been quoted only once before at a lower amount. 

 Oats are at corresponding rates. Rye is equally cheap. Beans are 

 rather dearer; but peas and vetches are exceedingly low. 



1338. The evidence is of the same nature as before. Wheat 

 prices are still cheaper, sales in February having been made at 

 2s. 6d. and 2s. 8d. in the Cuxham account. Prices in Oxford are 

 still lower, and quotations of even less amount may be found else- 

 where. The price, however, rises at about the middle of May, from 

 the cause so often adverted to, the anticipation of a coming dearth. 

 Barley is equally cheap, the whole of the Elham stock, amounting to 

 365 quarters, having been sold at is. Sd. the quarter; and a stock at 

 Oxford of 360 quarters having been disposed of at the same unpre- 

 cedented rate. Oats, too, are very cheap, being sold at Elham and 

 Oxford in large quantities at is. zd. the quarter. Rye is even cheaper 

 than the proportion ; and beans, &c. are sold at rates lower than any 

 previous experience. In fact, the harvest, to judge from prices, was 

 more abundant than any since 1287, and will not be paralleled for 

 cheapness till 1392. These observations apply to the cereals; the 



