1909.] The Corn Markets in March. 



73 



suffices for both transactions. Imports of oats to the end of March, 

 though about 434,000 qrs. more than last season, were still below 

 the mean. Argentina, however, shipped, in the course of March, 

 621,000 qrs., and the quantity on passage is now greatly above the 

 average, though, in type, limited to 304 lb. — that is to say, to the 

 least appreciated kind. Present values for oats are about a guinea 

 per 336 lb. for good, named varieties of English; 195. per 320 lb., 

 Konigsberg; 16s. per 304 lb. for Argentine; and 165. 3c?. to 165. 6d. 

 for 304 lb. Russian. A very small supply of 384 lb. New Zealand is 

 held at 245. per qr. 



Maize. — The imports of Indian corn for the seven completed months 

 of the cereal year were a little under five million qrs., whereas in 

 the like period of the last cereal year, they were a little above six million 

 qrs. The presumption that this difference has been made up by 

 increased use of oats on the farm would explain the pecularities 

 already discussed in relation to that trade, but it cannot be claimed 

 that it is more than a surmise. The March shipments of maize were 

 403,000 qrs. from North America, 286,000 qrs. from Russia, and 

 257,000 qrs. from Roumania, Bulgaria, and Salonica. The quantity 

 on passage on 31st March was only 310,000 qrs., which is much below 

 the average. Argentina reports a good crop ripe for harvest, but it 

 will require, as does all maize, a drying period of two months between 

 harvest and shipment, and it will not reach England in any very large 

 quantity before early August, for which date it is offered at 5s. qd. 

 per cental, spot values of most sorts of maize being 5s. gd. to 55. lod. 

 per cental. At Mark Lane 275. 6d. is paid for 480 lb. of round, and 

 2&s. 6d. for the like weight of flat corn. The fine maize of Natal and 

 Rhodesia is in better demand than supply; a price of 30s. to 30s. 6d. 

 may be quoted. 



Pulse.— Egypt, Syria, and Anatolia are disappointing British buyers 

 of beans, who are accordingly free purchasers of good English at 365. 

 per 532 lb., and of New Zealand at 335. per 504 lb. Lighter beans 

 from China fetch 315. 6d. per 480 bushels; Soy beans from Japan are 

 quoted at' six guineas per ton, a price equal to 275. per 480 lb. 

 The price of lentils is unchanged, and peas also are at former terms. 



Oil Seeds. — Cotton seed has, during part of March, been obtainable 

 at £7 x os. per ton for best Egyptian, a price that soon brings in 

 buyers from different quarters. The Argentine shipments of linseed 

 were not so heavy as in February, but there has been a certain amount 

 of difficulty about effecting sales, many buyers preferring to wait for 

 competitive offers of Indian new crop. The price of linseed may be 

 said to range from 425. to 46s. for the leading sorts. Rapeseed is 

 cheaper on the month, owing to the excellent out-turn in at least some 

 of the chief producing districts of India. 



Farm Seeds. — Prices made for clover seed have not encouraged 

 spring sowing. The terms ruling for English at the end of March 

 were 62s. to 64s. for best, 445. to 485. for good, and 325. to 365. for 

 common red, and were 305. to 355. lower on the year. The price of 

 white was 48s. to 585., and of suckling clover, 505. to 525. per cental. 

 The price of Alsyke, though a species of clover, is much better; 765. 

 to 885. is the range, and four pounds per cwt. is about a mean value. 

 High prices rule for Provence Lucerne : 76s. to 775. per cwt. Perennial 



