ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 237 



Beans and peas are cheap. Tares, probably the same as vetches, 

 are very low. Oatmeal is very low at first, but rises, if we may judge 

 from the Cambridge account, later in the year. 



1450-1. The information is scanty, but fairly wide. Prices are 

 higher, especially in the south and west. It appears that prices are 

 lower, at any rate in Oxfordshire, at the early part of the year. The 

 highest rates are reached at Hornchurch, Loders, Martock, and Yeovil, 

 at the last of which a considerable quantity is sold. The Lullington 

 sales are close on the average. Barley is not so dear, the price being 

 low in all the localities. One large sale of malt is effected at %s. 6d. y 

 and a small purchase is made at %s. Rye fairly corresponds to wheat. 

 Oats are a little dearer, but meal at Cambridge is low priced. Beans, 

 peas, vetches, and pulse are moderately cheap. 



1451-2. The information is abundant, derived from the south, the 

 west, the midlands, and the east. Wheat is a good deal dearer in the 

 west and east, and at one or two places in the south, the highest rate 

 being reached at Wiveliscombe, the lowest at Heyford Warren (the 

 November purchase) and at Rushmere. The price of barley and malt, 

 the entries of which are numerous, is also lower. So are oats ; oatmeal, 

 except in the case of a small purchase at Bicester, being cheap. Rye 

 fairly corresponds to wheat. Beans are not dear, and peas are very 

 cheap. But the high prices which prevail locally in wheat prevail 

 also in other kinds of corn, except oats, which are cheap at Apuldrum, 

 Wiveliscombe, and Yeovil. Beans are also cheap at the last-named 

 place. 



1452-3. Wheat prices are much lower, especially in the east and 

 midland counties. They are still dear in the west, the information 

 being nearly as copious as in the year before, and quite as wide. 

 Barley, of which considerable sales and purchases are recorded, falls 

 a little. Malt too, which is sold in large quantities at Ormesby and 

 bought in large quantities at King's College, Cambridge, and Sion 

 Abbey in the last-named 260 quarters at a high price corresponds 

 on the whole to barley. Oats are a little cheaper, and meal does 

 not vary materially from the prices which might be expected. Rye 

 and malted rye are at a price relative to wheat. Beans, peas, vetches, 

 and tares are low priced. The information is full and extensive. 



1 4 53-4- The information is extensive, and derived from a number 



of localities. Wheat is cheap in Cambridge, the average of 27 entries 



being 45. 5|</., the general average being 5.5-. i\d. The average of the 



Sion purchases is also low, 109 quarters at 5,$-. It is dearer in the 



midland and the north, though the quantities bought at Jarrow and 



