Variation in the Price and Supply of Wheat. 
217 
Decennial Average Prices fvom 1855 to 18G4 inclusive. 
s. d. 
Wheat 46 8 
Kye 31 1 
Barley 23 0 
SIEMKL, 1861. — "Tliis port suffers from the want of land and water com- 
munication with tlie interior."' " Wheat was not exported at all in 18G1, the 
small quantity which reached our market Leing sufficient to satisfy the local 
consumption." 
18()'2. — There is a complete system of water communication between this 
port and the Black Sea ; and the rivers, with their connecting canals, traverse 
the finest and most beautiful provinces of the Kussian empire, possessing 
inexhaustible riches in animal, vegetable, and mineral produce. The harbour 
is also the best, or one of the best, in the Baltic, and its connnuuication with 
the sea is never impeded by ice. But in the absence of railway communication 
Memel can never export much corn, because the inland water communication 
is closed by ice in October, and tlie produce of the new crop in Paissia cannot 
arrive till May, or even as late as August and September from the most distant 
provinces. And in Russia money costs from Ik to 2 per cent, per month. 
Warehousing and insurance are also very high and hazardous. Therefore 
Russian producers prefer sending their goods by railway to Kcenigsberg for the 
advantage of a quicker market. 
18G3.— ^During the past year our principal channel for transit, the river 
Niemen, was so shallow (and in fact is yearly becoming more so) that a large 
quantity of grain destined for our market did not reach it. It is beyond a 
doubt that the grain trade of Memel will decrease from year to year until its 
magnificent harbour becomes connected on the south with the province, 
and on the north with the I'iga and the intermediate fertile districts of 
llussia. 
The entire export of wheat during the year was about 200 quarters, asainst 
800 quarters in 18fi2 and 900 in 18'61. 
In 18C5, 21,000 quarters of rye were exported, chiefly to Norway, and' 
hardly any other corn. 
STETTIX-ON-THE-ODEK, ISOl.— Trade much improved in the last five 
years. The Oder Union Society, established to improve the navigation of the 
river and render it navigable for barges from Breslaw to Stettin throughout the 
year. Exjiorts of grain in 1861 large, owing to bad harvests in England and 
France. Total quantity of grain and peas exported, 800,000 quarters. 
Riga, 18G3. — No wheat exported. Both rye aud barley were too dear for 
export. 109,000 quarters of oats were exported ; all of which, except 70 
quarters, came to Great Britain. Average price of oats for the year Wis. Id. 
per quarter. 
1865. — Yield of corn always uncertain in this district. 
Total export of corn in 1865, 103,700 quarters, of which one-half went to 
Holland. Prices of wheat, 43s. (jd. per quarter. In 1864 the exports were 
298,267 quarters. 
LUBECK. — Although the harvest of 1862 has not been so good as was 
exi>ected, still it was in this vicinity a satisfactory one, and only barley and 
buckwheat may be considered as very moderate. In corn no great business 
could bo done, as on the Continent there was no great demand. 
" The grain harvest of the year 1863 was a plentiful one in the neighbour- 
ing provinces.' The prices of grain have suidc so verj' much that they can 
scarcely go any lower." 
1864. — In consequence of the rich harvest in Western Europe, and also of 
the bad quality of grain in Xorthern and Eastern Europe, the export to England 
