1908.] 



Provision Trade in May. 



231 



these are reduced we cannot expect much improvement in 

 prices. 



Butter. — Prices have been much above the average for the 

 time of year, caused chiefly by the smaller arrivals of Colonial 

 and Siberian, and the small stocks in cold stores in England. 

 The cold backward season has seriously affected the April 

 and May makes of butter in Ireland, owing to the flow of 

 milk being exceptionally small. The demand has been only 

 moderate for the entire month, buyers adopting a hand-to- 

 mouth policy, fearing a slump in prices, which ranged from 

 7s. to 14s. higher than for the corresponding time last year. 



Canada, from whence we used to receive large supplies, 

 finds her home trade taking all the butter she has manu- 

 factured since the opening of the new season, at prices which 

 put her out of the English market ; and butter shippers report 

 that they do not think they will have much for export again 

 this year, their largely increased population in the West taking 

 the supply from Ontario and Quebec, which a few years back 

 was exported to England. 



Eggs. — The cold weather greatly affected the supply of 

 English and Irish eggs. Ireland was considerably behind in 

 her supplies during the first half of May. During the latter 

 half of the month supplies have been freer all round, with 

 prices easier, and the Irish merchants have been busy pickling 

 for their winter trade, which has prevented any undue pressure 

 to sell for immediate consumption. 



Shippers of Canadian eggs report that their trade with 

 England this season is again likely to be small on account, 

 of the increased home demand. 



