1909.] 



The Corn Markets in March. 



best results differed for different plants, some being - more easily injured 

 by an over-dose. In a larger pot, however, more could be given with 

 benefit. As would be expected when earth richer in organic matter 

 was used, the benefit from rhe fertiliser was less and an over-dose 

 more injurious. With such earth, nitrate of soda should not be applied 

 so soon, and then only in moderate quantity. It is recommended that 

 the dose of nitrate should not exceed J gramme for pots 11-12 cm., 

 1-2 grammes for pots 14-16 cm., or 4 grammes for pots 20 cm. in 

 diameter. These figures represent about 7! grains for pots under 

 4^ inches, 15-30 grains for pots under 6 J inches, and about 60 grains 

 for 8 inch pots. 



THE CORN MARKETS IN MARCH. 

 C. Kains-Jackson. 



Retail demand for breadstuff s freshened during March, and for the 

 month as a whole exceeded the average. The tone of the markets 

 quickly improved under the influence of many small orders coming in ; 

 nothing, in fact, puts more heart into the wholesale trade than the 

 feeling that there is a wide basis for it in the good state of the retail 

 inquiry. Feeding stuffs were a good sale, owing to the backward state 

 of the pastures and the increased reluctance felt by farmers for any 

 exclusive reliance on roots as feed in winter. This is a case of scien- 

 tific instruction and good farming reacting on the markets, and may 

 fairly be taken as a hopeful sign in our agriculture. 



Wheat. — The price of English wheat for March, 1909, which 

 works out at an average higher than for any preceding March during 

 the new century, may be regarded as a legitimate encouragement to 

 farmers. If spring sowing of wheat had any extensive vogue in 

 England, the average of 365. for the last week of March would not 

 have come too late to lead to an increase in the area sown. English 

 farmers, however, are very conservative in this respect, and the idea 

 that spring wheat gives a poor yield to the acre is very deep-rooted. 

 At the end of March no foreign wheat was on sale for less than 

 405. per 480 lb., which was the lowest quotation at Mark Lane 

 on the 31st, albeit the receipts of the previous fifteen days from abroad 

 had been close upon a quarter of a million quarters. The closing 

 prices for imported wheat were in London, per quarter, the best 

 Manitoba, 44s. ; Common No. 4 Manitoba, 405. 6d. ; Durum, 405. 6d. ; 

 Argentine, 405. 6d. ; Russian best grades, such as Saxonka, Kubanka, 

 &c, 44s. ; ordinary South Russian Azima, 42.9. 6d. ; Odessa Ghirka, 

 415. 6d. ; Australian, 41s.; Californian, 41s.; and Walla Walla, 405. 6d. 



The supply of foreign wheat on passage rose gradually during 

 the month until, on the 31st, it stood at 4,215,000 qrs. This is the 

 highest total ever registered on that particular date, but on March 31st, 

 1908, the figure was 4,189,000 qrs., and on February 29th, 1908, it 

 was 4,285,000 qrs. The Argentine shipments are falling off, and the 

 greater part of the Australian surplus is usually exported in the first 

 three months of the year. A gradual reduction in the supply on 

 passage is therefore now to be anticipated. In the course of April, 



