424 



The Corn Markets in July. 



[AUG., 



an exceptionally wide variety of types was on offer, the London Corn 

 Trade Association alone quoting nine specific varieties. 



The month's shipments were 493,000 qrs. from North America, 

 1,130,000 qrs. from South America, 1,373,000 qrs. from Russia, 

 1,436,000 qrs. from India, and 105,000 qrs. from Australia. The supply 

 on passage fell from 3,100,000 to 2,210,000 qrs. 



British wheat was a very dull trade all through July, but the very 

 great scarcity prevailing made it easy to maintain the mean value at 

 well above forty shillings for the entire kingdom. A few " forward " 

 sales of standing wheat took place in the last week of the month, 425. 

 being paid in the Isle of Thanet, and 405. in Norfolk. 



Flour. — Very small sales of flour marked the month, and bakers 

 are reported to hold but small stocks. The price of the best flour in 

 Mark Lane, Hungarian, declined from 53s. to 525. per sack, but 

 remained extremely high as compared with ordinary years. The best 

 London grade, known as Top-price, closed on the 31st, as it started on 

 the 1st, at 395. The popular type, Town Households, fluctuated very 

 slightly, 345. 3d., 345. 6d., 345. being quoted at different markets. The 

 close of trade saw 345. accepted, but the market firm at that level. 

 American flour was a fair supply at 305. 6d. to 345. 6d. for ordinary 

 sound grades, and 35s. 6d. to 365. for specially fine patent makes. 

 Towards the end of the month there were offers to ship in September 

 new grists of the American winter wheat crop. Flour made by roller 

 from guaranteed fair average quality new wheat was obtainable for 

 September shipment at 305. gd. cost freight and insurance to London. 



Barley.- — Scarcely any malting barley has been on offer since mid- 

 summer, but a little Chilian Chevallier has been sold at Liverpool for 

 395. per 448 lb., and a sample or two of Moravian has fetched 425. 

 at Mark Lane. The Californian brewing type has been occasionally 

 offered at about 345. per 448 lb. The English malting barley of 1908 

 appeared to be wholly played out, but " robust inferior brewing " or 

 " bold poultry " barley was now and again met with during the month, 

 275. being a very usual price. The feeding barley from Russia has 

 been on sale for the last five or six weeks at 225. to 225. 6d. f and cargoes 

 to arrive in the course of August were sold during the last three days 

 of July at 215. 6d. per qr. These cargoes are of 1908 barley. A few 

 sales of the Russian new crop for October shipment have been put 

 through at a guinea per 400 lb. The month's shipments were 

 1,244,000 qrs. from Russia. From all other countries they were in- 

 significant. 



Oats. — Excellent prices were made in July for British oats, a guinea 

 per 312 lb. being, as a rule, the lowest price accepted, and 235. to 255. 

 per 336 lb. being paid by owners of good horses. The supply of New 

 Zealand oats was extremely small, but their fine quality caused them 

 to top the market with 265. paid per 384 lb. More ordinary but still 

 excellent New Zealand made 225. 6d. per 320 lb. The large sales of 

 light oats from Russia and Argentina were put through only when a 

 low price was accepted ; 175. to 185. may be given as the range. 

 Although the Argentine oats are "made up" to 304 lb., their 

 actual weight is sometimes as low as 272 lb., so that 32 lb. have to be 

 added. The addition does not unhappily alter the fact that for oats 

 to weigh under 304 lb. argues a quality that is very discouraging. 



