622 The Provision Trade in Seftember. [oct., 1911. 



September being $5.80 to $7.70, against $8.15 to $10.00 last year, and 

 $7.25 to $8.55 two years ago. 



English pigs are much cheaper than at the same time last year, 

 and, with feeding stuffs so dear, many breeders are reducing their 

 holdings. 



Cheese. — On account of the continued dry weather both here and 

 in Canada and consequent shortage in the make of cheese, prices have 

 continued to advance. Sales made during August at figures which 

 looked extremely high have turned out good purchases, as from 55. 

 to 75. per cwt. advance has since been paid for September makes, sales 

 having been made at as high as 735. c.i.f., which is about 20s. per 

 cwt. over the value of similar goods at the same time last year. 



The stock of cheese in Canada is now estimated to be about 150,000 

 boxes less than last year. The total shipments from that country 

 have been about 65,000 in excess of last year, importers finding that the 

 increased demand for Canadian to replace the shortage in English 

 cheese necessitated the early use of the summer makes, instead of 

 storing them for the winter trade. 



The advance in prices on spot during the month has been from 

 45. to 55. per cwt., which makes values about 165. to 175. above 

 those current at the same time last year. Up to the present there 

 have been no signs of the higher prices curtailing consumption, but 

 grocers are at present working on their cheaper purchases, and when 

 the full advance is asked the effect is sure to be a falling off in the 

 demand. Further contracts have been made for regular deliveries of 

 the new season's New Zealand cheese, as high as 66s. c.i.f. having 

 been paid. 



At the end of the month the stocks of Canadian cheese at the 

 three principal distributing centres (London, Liverpool, and Bristol) 

 were 269,000 cheese, against 363,000 at the same time last year, and 

 325,000 two years ago. The stock of New Zealand cheese was 250 

 crates in London and Bristol, against 1,150 last year. 



English cheese has been in good demand at hardening prices, on 

 account of the continued short make. 



Butter. — High prices have been the feature of the month's trading, 

 and with imports continuing below the normal, it is anticipated that 

 values will show further advances during October. The spot value of 

 Colonial butter at the end of the month was higher than at any 

 previous time in the month of September. 



Cable advices from both Australia and New Zealand report favour- 

 able conditions for a large make of dairy products. 



Moderate shipments continue to arrive from Canada, total ship- 

 ments to September 16th being 69,000 packages in excess of last 

 year. This has been chiefly brought about by the much smaller quan- 

 tities of raw cream shipped into the United States of America during 

 the present season. 



Eggs. — A fair trade has passed, the demand being chiefly for best 

 fresh lots, at hardening prices. 



