( XX ) 
136s. to 144s., and in the last week prices foi' best were 134s. to 
140s. In the month of November prices began at 126s. to 132s., 
the next two weeks they were 128s. to 136s. The top price then 
to the third week in December was 140s. 
Cheese. — American cheese continued to be a leading article in 
the market, and the transactions during the year 1877 were large. 
Early in January the opening prices for best were 64s. to 68s., 
lower qualities were 46s. to 60s. During the next five weeks 
prices for best were quoted at 70s. to 74s., but with stocks gra- 
dually reduced prices rose, and were quoted at 72s. to 76s., and 
afterwards prices for best ruled at from 76s. to 78s. From the 
middle of April to the end of May quotations for best ranged from 
73s. to 76s. By this time some of the new make began to arrive, 
and prices gave way somewhat rapidly. Thus in the beginning of 
June prices for best were 68s. to 70s., whereas in the last week 
of this month they fell to 56s. to 60s. From the beginning of July 
to 1st September — with the exception of one week— prices were 
chiefly for best at 55s. to 58s. In September prices for best began 
at 60s. to 62s., and closed at 62s. to 64s. Early in October prices 
for best were quoted at 64s. to 66s. ; at the close of this month 
they rose to 66s. and 70s. The year closed with best quality . 
quiet at the latter prices; lower qualities were quoted at 54s. 
to 64s. 
Cork Butter Market.— This market being now almost entirely 
dependent on English consumption, has accordingly felt the effects 
of the general depression of trade in the sister country, and a 
range of prices lower than for many years past has prevailed. 
The absence of any advance or fluctuation in price has also been 
very marked, seconds having been as low in November and 
December as they were in July and August. No value can be set 
on the nominal quotation set out for firsts at the close of the 3'ear, 
for, there being none of them making, it is in the power of any 
interested party, owing to the peculiar constitution of the market, 
to cause any price, however high, to be put forward as the official 
quotation for them. A much more reasonable course would be, not 
to quote a price for what is not making, nor any prospect of beinu,- 
made at this season, and to leave holders of old butter to sell it on 
its merits as best they may. 
The dull and wet summer, though so unfavourable to the 
harvest, has not acted prejudicially on butter-making, as the supply 
for 1877 has not only exceeded that of 1876, which was a year of 
drought, but has surpassed that of 1875, which was the largest on 
record, as will appear by the following figures: — 1875, 433,000 
firkins; 1876, 389,000 firkins ; 1 877, 442,000 firkins. 
