The Corn Markets in April. [may, 



Since harvest, imports of breads tuffs, a term which includes flour, 

 have been at the rate of 524,000 qrs. weekly, as compared with average 

 weekly imports of 482,000 qrs. last season. About half a million qrs. 

 appears to have been the retail want, so that, whereas by the end of 

 April, 1909, the country was understocked by 612,000 qrs. or there- 

 abouts, there is to-day a presumptive excess of about 816,000 qrs. 

 Reduced supplies of home-grown wheat, however, modify these figures 

 at present, in holders' favour, and a year ago larger deliveries from 

 farmers modified them in aid of the buyer. But for the presence of a 

 moderating influence in each season, prices must apparently have had 

 much greater variations than have actually been recorded. 



Flour.— The top-price has been reduced by one shilling, that of 

 Hungarian has fallen is. 6d., and all American and Canadian sorts 

 can be purchased at some reduction. Town Households have been 

 reduced in price by ninepence on the month. Country flour of fair 

 average quality, such as " Roller White," is difficult to quote as there 

 is nothing like selling on grade, but as a rule the value is not more 

 than 4s. below that of London Town Households, or less than 25. 

 below it. 



America in April shipped 395,000 sacks, which is not a large quantity, 

 and the quantity on passage at the end of the month, 180,000 sacks, 

 was also moderate. 



Barley. — A decline of ninepence to a shilling in Russian feeding 

 barley has brought it to a price which is decidedly attractive to buyers. 

 Almost any leading feedingstuff may now be considered cheap when it 

 gets down to five shillings per cental. British Barley has been a poor 

 trade at low rates. The malting season is virtually over, and the 

 market deliveries have included many very poor samples. The Russian 

 exports of 1,474,000 qrs. were the only striking shipments of the month, 

 which closed with 335,000 qrs. on passage. 



Oats. — Large supplies of inferior La Plata oats of the new crop have 

 been forced on an unwilling market, with the effect of lowering prices 

 somewhat seriously for all samples not weighing more than 304 lb. 

 Heavy oats have escaped depression ; on the 23rd the satisfactory 

 average of 20s. qd. was recorded at Canterbury. Shipments for the 

 month were 362,000 qrs. from South America and 583,00 qrs. from 

 Russia. The quantity on passage on the 30th was 460,000 qrs. 



Maize. — The fall in the price of American maize is somewhat remark- 

 able, as supplies have not been large. The value of Russian and 

 Argentine has been better maintained, and the steady market for 

 maize from Natal, Burma, and India suggests the opening up of new 

 sources of supply. The total sales of all sorts of maize since the 

 beginning of autumn have probably been less than usual, as the con- 

 sumption of this staple follows closely on the temperature. The 

 period October i-April 30 was marked by less cold than in an average 

 season. Shipments for April were 464,000 qrs. from North America, 

 142,000 qrs. from Russia, and 234,000 qrs. from Europe S.E. There 

 are, however, only 180,000 qrs. on passage to this country, the Continent 

 having taken much more than its usual proportion of the total quan- 

 tities shipped. The month closed with American at 245. 3d., La Plata 

 at 265. gd. } and Russian at 26s. 6d. per qr. 



Oilseeds. — In the last six days of April the downward tendency of 



