1910.] The Corn Markets in February. 1041 



labourers in Hampshire and Berkshire. Wet weather caused loss of 

 time to men employed at threshing and other work in Wiltshire, and 

 more men than usual were reported in irregular work. Day labourers 

 were generally in little demand in Dorset; there was a surplus of men 

 seeking permanent situations at the Dorchester hiring fair, a corre- 

 spondent reporting the supply as larger than for some years. Not 

 much irregularity of employment was reported in Somerset, where, 

 however, rain caused a certain amount of lost time to day labourers. 

 In Herefordshire, on account of an unusually wet month, day labourers 

 were in small request. A correspondent in the Bromyard Union states 

 that there was a demand for cowmen and waggoners. The weather 

 also affected employment in Gloucestershire, and several day labourers 

 were in irregular work. In Devon and Cornwall there was generally 

 plenty of work for day labourers when the weather permitted, but in 

 most districts a few days were lost through rain. 



THE CORN MARKETS IN FEBRUARY. 

 C. Kains-Jackson. 



The course of the markets since the close of January has been dis- 

 couraging alike to sellers and buyers ; to sellers because the prices 

 obtainable have not been so good as formerly, to buyers because their 

 willingness to pay full prices for good quality has failed to elicit a 

 sufficient choice of samples reaching a good standard. 



Wheat.- — The price of British wheat in London has been reduced by 

 about, a shilling per qr., the decline in the country districts being a 

 little less, though at several of the country markets, especially in the 

 north, wheat above chicken or feeding quality appears scarcely to 

 have been offered. The sales in London, though not so good as in 

 January, have been fair and had the level of quality been a little 

 higher would probably have been satisfactory. Few lots of fair type 

 and good weight lacked buyers, and seed wheat of sorts fit for spring 

 sowing reached really high prices, 485. to 645. per qr. Business in 

 these is mostly done off the market. The price of good white wheat 

 for milling use as the month closed was 395. per 504 lb., while the bulk 

 of samples offering ranged from 33s. to 365. per qr. Bad condition 

 rather than light weight led to these disappointing quotations. 



Foreign wheat has declined a shilling for Manitoba, which has been 

 in increased supply. Little has been done in Australian or Argentine 

 pending new arrivals and the Indian 1909 wheat is scarce and dear. An 

 increased supply is to hand from Russia, and is offered at 405. per qr. 

 Argentine new crop had been steady for prompt shipment at 385. to 

 385. 6d. per qr. till the 25th, when 375. 6d. to 375. gd. was accepted, a 

 fall which caused a depressed feeling at Mark Lane at the close of the 

 month. 



On that date 3,300,000 qrs. of foreign wheat were on passage, 

 against 2,500,000 qrs. on February 1, 1910, but 3,500,000 qrs. on February 

 28, 1909. Compared with a year ago, expectations of Russian and 



