Sept. 1894.] EXTRACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR 81 



REPORTS. 



Exports of Butter from Hamburg. 



The Hon. C. S. Dnndas, Her Majesty's Consul General at Ham- 

 burg, writing on the export trade in butter from that port, 

 remarks that it is a great question as to how much of this article 

 which is supplied to foreign markets is genuine butter. It is a 

 well-known fact that the sale of genuine butter in the country- 

 is safeguarded from compounds known under the designation of 

 butter. But this, it appears, does not operate in the case of the 

 exported article, and the large quantities imported into Hamburg 

 undergo a great deal of manipulation in that city in the pro- 

 cesses of washing and blending, so that it is a difficult matter, 

 and one upon which, only experts can pronounce to decide 

 whether the butter sent out is pure and unadulterated. The 

 opinion of outsiders seems to be unanimous in condemning it as 

 an adulterated article. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1432.] 



Chicago Grain Trade. 



Colonel Hayes-Sadler, Her Majesty's Consul at Chicago, in a 

 report on the trade of that city in 1893, states that the receipts 

 and shipments of flour were about one-third less than in 1892 ; 

 the receipts of wheat fell of by nearly 15-,000,000 bushels, and 

 the shipments by 19,000,000 bushels. Money stringency told 

 on a low market, and wheat suflered in common with other 

 products, prices ruling lower than at any former period. The 

 harvest produced considerably less than in the preceding year, 

 which again showed a large falling off fjom the yield of 1891, 

 so that, with the low price of cereals, farmers realised little 

 profit, and dulness pervaded the operations of dealers. Although 

 the demand in European markets was fair, the competition of 

 Russia at low prices prevented any tendency to a rise at Chicago. 

 The cash price of No. 2 wheat averaged only 2s. ^\d. a bushel, 

 against 3s. Z^d. in 1892 and 3s. ll\d. in 1891, and at one time 

 in July the price was as low as 2s. 3c^. a bushel. 



Though influenced by the general low price of cereals, the oat 

 market was steady and firm as compared with those of wheat 

 and corn, and the receipts and shipments exceeded those of 

 1892. The average price per bushel was Is. 2d., compared with 

 Is. 3Jd^. in the preceding year. 



The average price of rye fell from 2s. ^\d. in 1892 to about 

 Is. lOd. last year, and the market was dull, export business to 

 Europe having been restricted by the abundant supply fur- 

 nished from Russia. 



A less quantity of barley was also received, and the demand 

 for breweries, which on account of the World's Fair was 

 expected to be large, failed to realise expectations. 



The total receipts of cereals in 1893 was valued at 

 21,675,000L, against 26,021,000^. in 1892. 



[Foreign Offce Report, Annual Series, No. 1438.] 



O 83068. 



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