954 



The Corn Markets in January. [feb., 



favoured threshings, and the grain secured in the autumn, very slowly 

 and after much exposure, is too often found to be below brewing use, 

 and not much welcomed even by distillers. The mean price at Mark 

 Lane has been about 2s. 8d. lower than a year ago. 



The month's shipments were 83,000 qr. from California, 851,000 

 from Russia, and 171,000 from Europe S.E. The quantity on passage 

 was 540,000 qr. on New Year's Day, and 440,000 at the close of the 

 month. The statistical position should encourage holders, and foreign 

 sorts are in fact held with considerable firmness. 



Oats. — The country markets have quoted some very low averages — 

 16s. id. at a great agricultural centre like Colchester is a case in point. 

 Mark Lane has kept its name as a high quality market, but business 

 did not at any single market reach a full level of winter briskness. 



Foreign oats have been a steady trade at 16s. to 16s. 6d. for ordinary 

 304 lb. kinds. La Plata has been offering new crop for February ship- 

 ment at 15s. 3d., and a considerable "forward" business has been 

 done. There were 272,000 qr. shipped during January from the River 

 Plate, and 930,000 qr. from Russia. The supply on passage rose to 

 400,000 qr. 



Maize. — An important survey of the world's production of this staple 

 appears in Dornbusch's Shipping List of the 28th January. The total is 

 put at over 421 million quarters and buyers should, in theory, have the 

 best of the market. As a matter of fact, maize has been firm where 

 most other staples have lacked strength, and at the end of the month 

 London quoted 27s. for Odessa, 285.' Buenos Aires, 275. 3d. Durban and 

 275. 3d. Baltimore ; Liverpool, 55. 8d. New American, 5s. iod. old 

 Argentine, and 5.?. gd. new Russian. London prices are per 480 lb., 

 Liverpool per 100 lb. Argentina at the close of the month was selling 

 new crop for May shipment at 265. 6d. per 480 lb., and the fact that 

 there were free takers at this price argued no belief in maize being 

 really cheap this year. 



Shipments were 837,000 qr. from North America, 283,000 South 

 America, 338,000 Russia, and 430,000 "Europe S.E." There was a 

 decline in the quantity on passage from 690,000 qr. to 540,000 qr., and 

 America thus far has held her new crop with much stiffness. 



Oilseeds. — The price of linseed has remained high, and on the 31st 

 London quoted Indian at 60s. per 410 lb., Argentine at 585. per 416 lb. 

 Prices for June delivery of new Indian, and for March delivery of new 

 Argentine, were 545. 9d. and 565. respectively. The first half of 1910, 

 therefore, is promised a price range of 555. to 605., with 575. 6d. as 

 an average. This quotation is viewed with apprehension by those who 

 need large quantities for expressing oil or making cake. 



Oilcake. — The best London-made linseed cake on New Year's Day 

 was quoted at 95. 6d. to gs. gd. per cwt. cash ex mill, while on the 

 31st January gs. 3d. was accepted. This abatement of previous 

 stringency is welcome, but anything over 95. is a serious matter for 

 those with animals to fatten or even keep in level condition over winter. 

 Russian linseed cake is no cheaper on the month, and America on the 

 31st reported a rising market. Russian is mostly held for gs., with 

 8s. 1 id. per cwt. sometimes accepted. Egyptian cottonseed cake at 

 Hull has declined from /J 6 55. to £6 2s. 6d. per ton on the month; 

 the London price is unchanged — £6 2s. 6d. per ton. Trade is slow. 



