1910.] The Corn Markets in December. 



865 



Manitoba was making- 415. 3d. per qr. and American red winter 85. 3d. 

 per cental, prices identical with those accepted in the last days of 

 November. The year at Mark Lane ended with 395. paid for Durum, 

 44s. 6d. for fine old Australian, 415. for New Zealand, 415. for Russian 

 Azima, and 40s. for Russian Ghirka. These were the sorts mostly on 

 offer. At Liverpool, prices closing the month were Ss. 3d. per cental 

 for No. 2 Manitoba, Ss. $d. for Argentine, Ss. ^d. for white Karachi, and 

 Ss. 3d. for Red Karachi. Hull was a little cheaper than Liverpool for 

 Indian wheat, but agreed with London and Liverpool for other sorts 

 December shipments ■ were 1,253,000 qrs. from North America. 

 109,000 qrs. from South America, 2,664,000 qrs. from Russia, 173,000 

 qrs. from "Europe, S.E.," and 187,000 qrs. from India,, In December, 

 1908, shipments were 1,586,000 qrs. from North America, 60,000 qrs. 

 from South America, 747,000 qrs. from Russia, 402,000 qrs. from " Europe, 

 S.E." and 5,000 qrs. from Persia. No Indian shipments took place 

 in 1908 after 7th November. The supply on passage on the last day of 

 the month was 1,900,000 qrs. which was 202,000 qrs. increase from 

 30th November, and 168,000 qrs. more than on 31st December, 1908, 

 but still considerably below the average of the past ten years. 

 Continental inquiry was much brisker than a year previously. This 

 inquiry was especially vigorous for Russian, of which the supply on 

 passage to the United Kingdom actually fell 20,000 qrs. on the month. 



Flour. — The flour trade was dull for the first fortnight of December, 

 and also for the last three days, but just before Christmas, from the 17th 

 to the 22nd, there was a sharp outburst of demand, and in London 

 value improved by sixpence for all the products of the town mills. This 

 advance was not lost, on trade being resumed after Christmas, but the 

 demand did not revive before the year closed. There was, however, 

 nothing depressing in this, as bakers, when buying from the 17th to 

 22nd, and especially at the excellent market of the 20th, acquired enough 

 flour to carry them into 1910. The old year closed with top price at 

 355., town whites at 335., town households 305., No. 2 at 28s. 6d. per qr. 

 Fine middlings were £7, sharps £5 10s., and bran £5 per ton. 

 Turning to country flour, we found the year closing with plenty to be 

 had at 265. per sack, though 325. was commanded by patents and fancy 

 sorts where the baker pays for the protection of some great firm's name 

 for level grade and skilful mixture. The price of American flour at the 

 close of 1909, was 325. for best Minneapolis, 315. for best Kansas, and 

 285. for Iron Duke. Canadian made 31s. 6d. for fine quality from the 

 mills on Lake Superior. Hungarian at 49s. on spot, had very little sale, 

 but 475. for January shipment from Trieste was a more reasonable 

 quotation. A few sales were reported of Australian at 315. 6d. and of 

 best French at 28s. 6d. per sack. There were 240,000 sacks on passage on 

 the last day of the old year. America, in December 1909, shipped 

 533,000 sacks, against 706,000 sacks in December, 1908. 



Barley. — All through December, Mark Lane was a poor market, 

 and prices were thoroughly unsatisfactory. Hardly any markets 

 averaged thirty shillings, even in the chief counties for the production 

 of malting quality. Kent, on the whole, showed the best prices, the 

 chief markets circling round a twenty-seven shilling average. The 

 sales were increased by the low prices, but it was impossible to get value 

 up in the absence of quality, and the prevalence of discoloured grain. 



