152 



Market Prices. 



[may, 1908.] 



sudden changes of temperature, hence the rather heavy 

 relative fall in its value on what may be called the first day of 

 genial spring weather. Frozen, or " hard " beef, as it is called 

 in the market, w T as held with more confidence, and no reduction 

 was made in the price. The following is a fair scale of values 

 in carcase beef at Smithfield at the close of the month ; taking 

 the first quality in each case : — Scotch sides, 6§d. ; English, $%d. ; 

 port-killed, ^d. ; American chilled, $\d. ; Argentine chilled, 

 4%d. ; New Zealand frozen, $| d. ; Argentine frozen, ^\d. per lb. 



Mutton was slow to sell, but prices were fairly maintained. 

 Best small Scotch tegs weighing about 50 lb. were worth 

 8-^d. ; Scotch weighing 72 lb., y\d. ; prime English tegs of 

 72 lb., yhd.: best New Zealand frozen, 4%d. ; Argentine and 

 Australian, ^\d. per lb. 



There was no further change in the prices of provisions at 

 the close of the month worthy of notice. 



Store Stock. — If fat stock markets are influenced by the 

 weather, those for stores are much more seriously affected. 

 April is always a critical time for the store trade, and this year 

 the climatic conditions could scarcely have been worse. 

 Pastures are rather late, and the fact that prices have 

 given way to such a small extent denotes much confidence on 

 , the part of graziers, and also tends to show a scarcity of good 

 stores suitable for grazing purposes. Cattle are much easier of 

 sale than sheep. With them, the weather is the ruling factor 

 to a much greater extent than with cattle at this time of year, 

 and it would amount to rashness to purchase largely till the 

 prospects of summer keep are improved. A very few days, 

 however, may accomplish wonders in this direction. 



