( XXXII ) 
selling at 116s. to 124s. for the choicest quality, subsequently dropping to 
98s. and 90s., then rallying to 108s., 122s., and to 1.30s. and 1.34s., but the 
closing quotations ■were 116s. to 120s. American has ranged from 50s. to 
66s. at the worst period, to 80s. and 116s. at the best, with other sorts and 
substitutes (chiefly under the exploded terms of "Bosch " and "Butterine," 
BOW JMargarine) in proportion. 
Cheese. — So far as can be proved by the quantity actually imported 
into the United Kingdom, the supplies of cheese during the past year have 
been quite as abundant as those in 1886, and whatever * shortage ' there 
may have been, it must have existed more in the home production than in 
foreign descriptions. Be this as it may, the prices for American — one of 
the leading kinds of cheese — have been above those of the former year, and 
during the first half of 1887, while the value of the finer grades stood at 
56s. to 67s., that of the medium and lower qualities was not less than 36s. 
to 60s. During a temporary depression in July, however, the quotations 
were only 36s. to 51s., but they afterwards soon mounted upwards, and have 
towards the close been advanced to 46s. to 64s., the veiy latest rates being 
•40s. to 62s. per cwt. Edam cheese in the earlier months realised oOs. to 
60s., but later on was not worth more than 46s. to 52s., though, in common 
with other goods, it has since been taken at much firmer prices — 56s. to 
60s. Goudas have varied in price from 40s. to 49s. early in the year, to 
between 36s. and 42s. a'u the dullest period, and to 44s. and 52s. per cwt. 
within the last few months. Singularly enough, English cheese in London 
has not undergone many changes in quotations, having been only partially 
affected by the more favourable reports from the country fairs and else- 
where, and is now on offer at prices differing but slightly from those of a 
twelvemonth since. 
Maegaeine. — The Margarine Act is now in force, and if a customer 
asks his grocer for butterine his grocer will be unable to supply it, but will 
have to inform him that he can let him have practically the same article 
under the name of margarine, duly labelled in the style prescribed by law. 
We do not anticipate that there will be many prosecutions under the new 
Act, as the trade are, for the most part, thoroughly familiar with its provi- 
sions, and know what the law expects of tliem. It will, no doubt, be the 
small shopkeepers who will be chiefly proceeded against, as unfortunately 
these do not take the trouble to make themselves acquainted even Avith legal 
measures directly aflectiug their own interests. 
