1042 Live and Dead Meat Trade in February, [march, 



Maize. — The maize imports for the first half of the cereal year 

 approached five and a half million quarters, and were nearly three- 

 quarters of a million more than in the like period of the previous twelve- 

 month. Prices underwent little change during February, 215. for flat, 

 225. for round, 23s. for white, and 245. for yellow per qr. being the 

 average currencies with which Mark Lane closed. Liverpool holders 

 on the 28th obtained 4s. 2d. per cental for newly arrived American. 

 There were on that day 495,000 qrs. on passage, a somewhat marked 

 decline from the 1st, and as such indicating that the month's ship- 

 ments for British ports had been smaller than the arrivals thereat. 

 Shipments for February were 1,125,000 qrs. from North America, 68,000 

 qrs. from South America, 284,000 qrs. from Russia, 249,000 qrs. from 

 Europe, S.E., and 30,000 qrs. from South Africa. The Continent was 

 a freer buyer than usual. 



Oilseeds. — An excited market from the 13th to the 24th caused 

 linseed to reach 825. for English and Bombay, 805. for Calcutta and 

 Russian, 785. for La Plata. About 35. was lost off these striking 

 quotations by the 28th, but the month closed with exceptional figures, 

 and the quantity on passage, 48,000 qrs., being much less than an 

 average, stringency in the matter of supply appears inevitable for some 

 time to come. India is reported to have a good crop in prospect, but 

 supplies will hardly be here in bulk before June. The price asked is 

 high, and India appears to have little fear of Argentine competition. 

 During February La Plata shipped 286,000 qrs., against 779,000 qrs. in 

 February, 19 10. 



Cottonseed did not share in the rise as Egypt has a large crop. 

 About Ss. 6d. per cwt. has remained the ordinary selling value. The 

 scarcity of linseed has stimulated sales of other oilseeds ; sellers quote 

 good rapeseed at 125. 6d. per cwt. for English, 10s. 6d. Indian ; sesame 

 at 145., and sunflowerseed at 175. per cwt. 



Various. — Beet sugar and feeding rice were a little dearer at the 

 close of the month, while tares, canaryseed, Lucerne seed, and good 

 white cloverseed showed a decided appreciation. On the other hand, 

 English red cloverseed, Burmese haricot beans, and most of the by- 

 products of the mill were cheaper. The dearness of oilcake has helped 

 the demand for beans and peas, but the deliveries have been fairly free 

 and farmers have been content to effect good clearances at January's 

 full rates. 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN FEBRUARY 

 A. T. Matthews. 



Fat Cattle. — The chief feature of the cattle trade in February was its 

 remarkable steadiness, at any rate, in the average values in the English 

 markets. There were, of course, fluctuations in values at many centres, 

 but these almost exactly balanced each other week by week. The 

 range of prices, however, between different markets was very consider- 

 able, amounting to about is. per stone. It will be seen by the follow- 

 ing that Shorthorns maintained the January prices, as also did Welsh 

 Runts, while the other three breeds showed a slight decline. This 

 was probably owing to the fact that over wide areas Shorthorns are in 

 the height of their season for stall feeding. The average prices work 



