224 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



is not suggestive of an accurate inference. The entries of malt are 

 numerous, and imply that as malt was proportionately dear, the quality 

 of the barley was low, for even drage malt is dear. Oats are propor- 

 tionate to other kinds of grain. The entries of rye are scanty, and 

 are affected by the Aylsham prices. Beans occur twice, and the 

 average of the entries is probably near the facts. Peas and pulse 

 correspond to the price of beans, though the entries are few. On 

 the whole, there must have been a well-marked scarcity during 

 this year. 



1409-10. Prices are uniformly higher, rising above any year since 

 1369. To this general scarcity there is one marked exception, that 

 of Cambridge, where wheat and barley are purchased at average 

 prices. A small quantity of wheat is bought at a low rate at Pershore, 

 and a large quantity of barley at Winterton is very cheap. Oats are 

 also dear. Rye follows the price of wheat. I should gather from the 

 entries that the summer was generally wet, but that some districts and 

 some soils were unaffected by the prevailing weather. The highest 

 prices are reached in Essex. The two entries of drage are misleading 

 as regards what must have been the general value of this kind of grain, 

 though the value corresponds with that of wheat and barley in the 

 localities which give the information. The entries of malt come 

 almost exclusively from Cambridge, and correspond to those of wheat. 

 The high price on Nov. i, at Heyford Warren, is an indication that 

 the prospects of the harvest were anticipated at an early date. 



1410-11. The information is sufficiently copious, being chiefly 

 of the Southern counties. The high prices of the previous year affect 

 early sales, one at Ss. for wheat being recorded, but, as will be seen, 

 corn falls to little more than half the value at which it stood generally 

 in the previous year. One entry of seed wheat is high. The 

 purchases of malt at Cambridge are very numerous, and probably 

 represent weekly buyings. But the average price fairly corresponds 

 to wheat. Barley prices are high and suggest purchases for seed. 

 Rye is rather over price, being heightened by seed buyings. To 

 judge from the few entries recorded, beans, &c. must have been abun- 

 dant and cheap. 



1411-12. The information is of the same character with that of 

 the foregoing year, and prices are nearly identical with those of the 

 preceding season. Wheat is 4$. lod. the quarter. Barley is lower, 

 and the harvest must have been plentiful. Drage is as low as the 

 proportion would suggest. Rye is even lower than might be expected, 

 except that the price would be depressed by the cheapness of wheat. 



