1910.] Live and Dead Meat Trade in December. 867 



business is predicted for 19 10. There have been buyers of Indian white 

 peas at js. 3d. per cental, of Canadian at js. yd., of Chinese at 6s. 6d., 

 and of New Zealand at 14s. Beans have made 305. per qr. for Chinese, 

 325. for Japanese. Little has been done in English pulse. At Alexandria 

 30,000 qrs. of beans are in granary, against 25,000 qrs. a year ago, but 

 no bids were reported and a price therefore cannot be quoted. 



Oilseeds. — Demand for linseed during December completely outran 

 supply, and as the abler operators quickly secured the control of the 

 modest stocks and supplies on passage, very high prices had to be paid 

 by those under contract to deliver seed which they had omitted to arrange 

 for. The prices making at the end of December were 12s. to 135. per 

 qr. up on the year. It is impossible to say how long 58s. to 595. per 

 416 lb. will continue to be made, for Argentina offers prompt shipment 

 of her new crop at 525. 6d. c.i.f. to London. Any price above 505. is, 

 however, uncomfortably high for those who have to make linseed cake, 

 and the price of the cake to farmers in the early part of 19 10 must 

 apparently needs be high also. Cottonseed has risen to gs. 6d. per cwt. 

 for Egyptian. At Alexandria 77,000 tons are in warehouse, which is a 

 full average, but the holders are extremely firm. On the last day of the 

 month 75,000 qrs. of linseed and 63,000 tons of cotton seed were on 

 passage. 



Farm Seeds. — English red clover seed, remaining scarce all through 

 the month, closed on the 31st at 945. per cwt. for best, 765. for secondary, 

 and Jos. for fair average quality. Inferior seed was practically 

 unsaleable. Other farm seed prices at the end of December were 68s. 

 for fine English trefoil, 70s. for suckling clover, 96s. for cowgrass, 125. 

 for hemp seed, 88s. for lucerne, and 22s. for white mustard seed, all 

 per cwt. Perennial rye grass made 42s. per 224 lb., the "double cwt." 

 by which it is mostly dealt in. 



Minor Staples. — Common feeding rice is stationary at 6s. yd. per cwt. 

 At one period of 1909 it reached js. gd., and at the closing price of 

 December was a good bargain. Common beet sugar for feeding 

 purposes fluctated between 12s. and 125. 6d. per cwt., but in July half-a- 

 guinea was accepted, so that the situation has changed markedly on the 

 half-year. Dari has been in slightly increased supply and may be had for 

 255. per 480 lb. Canary seed has continued in fair request, the month 

 closing with Mazagan at 49s., Argentine at 47s., and Turkish at 465.; 

 all per 464 lb. 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN DECEMBER. 

 A. T. Matthews. 



Fat Cattle. — The great feature of the month was, of course, <the 

 Christmas markets, which in many of the country centres partake of 

 the nature of shows, inasmuch as prizes are given, and animals which 

 win them often make prices far beyond current market values. During 

 the first nine days there was a moderately good supply of fat cattle at 

 most markets, and trade was generally firm. In twenty-two English 

 markets, first quality Shorthorns averaged hi. per stone more money 

 in the week ending December 9th than in the preceding week. 

 Herefords, the best of whose season was over, declined slightly, their 



