Variation in the Price and Supply of Wheat. 249 
America. 
BOSTON. Massachusetts, October, 1862. — The large crops of j^vaiii of 
the West and South-West, and surplus of last year, liavc come forward 
in larger quantities than ever before kuown, beinc: diverted from their usual 
channels bj' the war. llaihvays crowded, freights double. Demand for 
Europe equal to the large receipts here. 
ExjMrts to Europe, 18G1. 
Flour 1,178,000 barrels. 
Wheat 2,000,000 quarters. 
Maize 600,000 
1862. — The high price of exchange has stimulated the export trade. 
Railroads connected with the west so fully employed as to have raised the 
cost of flour, &c., on the sea-board. A great home demand in consequence of 
the increased activity in manufacturing towns : ])rices therefore higher. This 
country has been able to make good the deficient harvest in Europe. 
1863. — Tlie drain on the male population for recruitments lias enhanced 
wages and augmented greatly the price of necessities of life. Price of flour 
higher than in any year since 1856. Agricultural wages have risen from 64s. 
a month to 9?. 12s. a month. Crop short. 
The excitement in tlie wool market has been beyond all precedent ; the 
increase in woollen machinery is estimated at 30 per cent, in eighteen months. 
1864. — Exports of flom* to the provinces only 342,000 barrels ; of wheat, 
6 bushels ! 
1866. — Boston itself is increasingly a large and very handsome city ; but the 
high jjiices render it a very costly and onerous residence. Even a very moderate 
house, if furnished, cannot be rented under 4000 dollars and taxes ; unfur- 
nished, 2500 dollars to 3000 dollars ; and, even at these prices, there are 
scarcely any in the market, so that jiersons of small means are necessarily 
driven to hotels, where 4 to 5 dollars a day are expected for accommodation, 
without any extras. Labour commands at least 2h. dollars a day; skilled 
labour a very much higher rate ; so that the money which would give a 
competence in Europe is absolutely here absorbed by necessities. The cessa- 
tion of the war has not induced, as was expected, lower prices ; but, in manj' 
articles, the contrary ; and no relief can be looked for as long as there is such 
a large amount of cuiTency in circulation. 
1867. — Has suffered from the unsettled state of finance, the political agita- 
tion, and the prohibitory tariff. Stagnation of commerce. Harvest generally 
moderate; good in the West. Prices high in consequence of the deficient 
crops in Europe. 
Exforts to Foreign Ports. 
1866. 1867. 
Flour, barrels 178,754 .. .. 195,109 
Wheat, quarters .. .. 60 .. .. 3,000 
Maize 4,628 .. .. 3,441 
CALIFORNIA, 1861. — The agricultural resources of the country have been 
considerably extended during the^past year. 
The total yield of wheat has been 680,000 quarters ; average yield per acre 
estimated at 20| bushels. 
The number of cattle increased so greatly that the price fell to less than 
half that of 1860. Several thousand have been boiled down for tallow, netting 
to the owner about 44s. to 48s. each. 
Growth of wool attracting attention. 
1862.— Yield of wheat estimated at 1,115,000 quarters, or nearly 24 bushels 
an acre ; but this the Consul thinks cannot be entirely relied on, though it is 
the best statistical information that can be obtained from the Surveyor General's 
Office. 
