1908.] 



Provision Trade in August. 



47i 



and as they are very difficult to remove, and will not take the dye, great 

 damage is often done. Another bad practice is that of leaving lumps ot 

 earth on the fleeces ; this often leads to disputes with the auctioneer as to 

 allowances.* 



The highest price of the season was n^d. for washed South Down wool, 

 while Hamphire Down teg wool made as much as n|<^. washed and S^d. 

 unwashed, but the average price for best Down wool would be about lo^d. 

 and J^d. respectively. Coarser wool varied considerably. 



Taking the sales as a whole they may be regarded as satisfactory. The 

 amount offered for open sale, which was fully up to the average, and in some 

 cases in excess of last year's supplies, would appear to show that only a 

 comparatively small amount of buying was done privately prior to the sales. 

 The fact that nearly all the lots were sold points to the conclusion that the 

 season of 1908 has not been so disastrous as was anticipated at the beginning 

 of the year. There is one peculiar fact worth mentioning with regard to the 

 Bradford trade. It is estimated tha|; although as much wool has been 

 sold during the season as in former ones, less wool has gone to Bradford 

 than last year, a very large amount having been bought for Ireland. 



REVIEW OF PROVISION TRADE IN AUGUST. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — August is usually one of the best months of the year for the con- 

 sumption of bacon, and the highest prices are secured for side meat. The 

 reverse has happened this month, as directly the bank-holiday demand had 

 been met there was an appreciable falling off, and prices began to decline. 

 During the week ending 14th August official quotations for Danish sides 

 were reduced 3^. to 8s. per cwt., and the following week further reductions of 

 from 4s. to 5 s., making in a period of about ten days, a fall of 11s. per cwt. 

 on some selections. The arrivals of Danish into London were only about 

 4,400 bales in excess of the receipts for the same time last year. The slump 

 in Danish also brought down the prices of English and Irish sides, although 

 not to the same extent, but about $s. to 6^. per cwt. In addition to the 

 smaller demand, the severe fall in the prices of Danish was helped by the 

 arrival of some imperfectly cured lots, the hot weather necessitating all mildly 

 cured -meats being handled quickly. These conditions materially assisted 

 the sale of the best brands of Canadian bacon, more reliably cured, which 

 sold at reductions of from is. to 4s. per cwt. only ; the secondary brands 

 were neglected, and low prices had to be accepted to effect sales. During 

 the last few days of the month the position improved, the lower prices 

 attracting more business, and. 1 s. to is. advances were secured for Danish, 

 prices also hardening for English and Canadian. 



The arrivals of American bacon have been below the average, and at 

 the commencement of the month slight advances were made for freshly 

 arrived parcels, but by the end of the month these increases had been lost. 

 Stocks in English Cold Stores are still large, and buyers have the advantage 

 in price if in a position to deal in such goods. 



* This subject is dealt with in Leaflet No. 82, " Preparation of Wool for Market," 

 copies of which can be obtained, post free, from the offices of the Board. A pamphlet 

 has also been issued by the Home Wool Buyers Association, which was reprinted in 

 his Journal, July, 1907, Vol. xiv., p. 241. 



