1909.] The Live and Dead Meat Trade. 



793 



for January, February and March shipment is, as has been already seen, 

 to some degree reduced by the remarkable depletion in spot reserves. 

 December imports were the smallest since 1902. 



Pulse. — Split beans had a slow sale before Christmas, but a better 

 inquiry manifested itself before the month was quite out. The sales in 

 the split form are for a unit of 320 lb., too heavy for a sack and standing 

 for a couple of 160 lb. bags. Buyers should note this. The price by this 

 unit is 2 is. to 22s. ; for the higher price old beans should be procurable, 

 the lower quotation representing new beans. Where unsplit, beans 

 make about 335. per 504 lb. Peas commanded at the end of December 

 355. per 504 lb. for Maple and 325. 6d. for Dun. Split peas are not 

 sold by the 320 lb., like beans, but by the same unit as when unsplit. In 

 the split form they have been making 475. for yellow and 495. for kiln- 

 dried. 



Oil Seeds. — All through 1908 oil seeds kept up well in price, and 

 they closed with currencies ruling that should represent a good profit on 

 production. Linseed at the two London markets after Christmas made 

 475. for Russian with a 98 per cent, purity guarantee, 465. for Calcutta, 

 505. for Morocco, 455. for fair average quality La Plata, and 505. for 

 Dutch. Rape seed has been quoted at 445. per 416 lb. for 1909 shipment 

 from India, the quality being that known as Ferozepore. Very little 

 spot trade has been done, but a few tons of English have changed hands 

 at 605. per qr. Poppyseed at 505. per qr. has been but little noticed. It 

 is, however, rich in oil, and it is not soporific in its effect on cattle when 

 made into cake. Cottonseed, at seven guineas per ton, closed' the year 

 with a stiff market. 



Farm Seeds. — Business has increased in farm seeds, but prices for 

 clover seed have fallen slightly owing to larger deliveries from farmers. 

 Canada has continued to send us some excellent Alsyke, which Mark 

 Lane does not leave long unsold. French Lucerne at 765. to 775. per 

 cwt. has had only a small sale; the price is unusually high. Sainfoin has 

 made 255. to 275. per qr., and has been in somewhat improved demand. 



Minor Staples. — As soon as the weather turned to frost brewers' 

 grains rose is. 3d. per ton. Dried ale grains advanced from 1055. to 

 1065. 3d. per ton, and other kinds in proportion. Oatmeal was in 

 improved request, but at the close of the month £11 per ton cash still 

 commanded Aberdeen. There was at the end of December a fair sale 

 of feeding rice at ys. per cwt. rough, and gs. per cwt. cleaned. 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN 

 DECEMBER. 



A. T. Matthews. 



Fat Cattle. — After a long series of markets during the autumn at 

 which the principal feature was the half-fed condition of the animals 

 on offer, it was quite a relief, when December came in, to see the end of 

 the grazing season and the first of the Christmas shows and markets. 

 The first distinct improvement visible in the condition of cattle classed 

 as Shorthorns at the Metropolitan market was on the last day of 

 November, when some stall-fed cattle were on offer. On the 7th the 



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