( XXI ) 
from January to April ranged from 7Gs. to 86s. May 76s. to 84s. 
June 78s. to 8Gs. July to the second week in August 76s. to 84s., 
then to the end of August 76s. to 80s. September 76s. to 84s. The 
range throughout almost the entire of October and November was 
76s. to 86s, A few choice parcels in December realised 90s. 
American from January to March 60s. to 64s. April 64s. to 70s. 
May and early part of June 56s. to 62s. ; end of June 56s. to 66s. 
July 56s. to 62s. August and September 60s. to 66s. October 60s, 
to 70s, November and December 64s, to 74s, : thus showing, whilst 
butter has advanced considerably over 30s. per cwt. on Irish, and 
over 40s. on foreign, Cheshire cheese shows an advance of only 10s. 
per cwt,, and American 1 2s, 
Year 1869, — Butter. 
" Not a very long time since the import of Irish butter into 
England exceeded that of foreign. The quantity of Irish has since 
increased, but not in the same proportion as foreign, and the former 
is now but a fraction compared with the latter. It also implies that 
the condition of the English workman must have greatly improved, 
for the increase of population will not account for the immensely 
increased consumption. 
" The season in the Cork market nominally begins in April, when 
the cows begin to be fed on the grass, and that butter-tainting 
food, the turnip, is no longer needed, 1868 had an unusually dry 
summer, and very high prices prevailed in consequence, the make 
of butter being deficient; the season 1869, therefore, found stocks 
used up, and the opening prices were at the extraordinary rates of 
140s, for firsts and seconds, and 11 38. for thirds; but, with fine 
weather, and everything promising well, these figures could not 
hold, and the 1st of May saw them at 122s., 108s., and 91s. They 
continued to slide down, and on May 13, 101s., 96s., and 87s., were 
the quotations. This was about the lowest point, and the prices 
continued through May, June, and July, almost unchanged at 104s,, 
100s., and 92s. The summer and autumn came very favourable. 
Grass was abundant, and there was unquestionably a large make of 
butter ; but it is rarely that August passes without a stir in prices, 
and, as it drew near its close, 113s., 106s., and 98s., were obtained. 
Since then there has been a gradual and steady advance up to the 
present, when the stiff figures of 132s., 120s., and 105s., have to be 
paid, with every prospect of a further advance. That the summer 
was favourable for the production of butter in Ireland will be 
apparent from the fact that about 390,000 firkins have been sold up 
to Christmas, 1869, against 335,000 the previous year, being an 
increase in money-value of about 200,000Z. 
