The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-04-21 00:00:00

fearktts.

THE BRITISH CORN TRADE.

-
Strong as the English and Scotch markets have
been for the past to days with wheat and flour selling
well at Is. to 15. irregular advance, yet many persons
feel that the advent of a week's warm weather, such
as the end of April often brings, would at once
reduce trade again to the most restricted limits
possible, and with a falling demand value would fall
also. Some holders rely upon the continuance of a
French demand carrying off many of our coast car-
goes, and moreover reckon that with American
quotations higher than English, that therefore no
decline is to be looked for in New York. Either of
the above supports to trade must, however, be sus-
pected, since the only true strength of the market is
in the simple wants of the country, and as these are
considered fairly assured, there are felt to be no
grounds for fears of scarcity, whilst there are liberal
promises for the future in agricultural prospects, not
only at home but abroad in those early climates
where harvest begins in May and June, and although
the produce is not available for two months later,
yet its existence never fails to influence our English
markets in summer. These remarks, therefore,
recommend farmers to bring their stocks to market
during April and May, as a time when fairly
remunerative rates are offereti.

The home produce offered for sale has amounted to
a total of 34,000 quarters, and to the smallness of
this supply the improved value of English wheat is
mainly due, whilst the advance in foreign sorts is
traced to the daily sales of cargoes off the coast.
Altogether, as we remarked last week, the present
season offers good opportunities, from time to time,
for holders to realise their stocks, notwithstanding
the downward current of prices since the first fort.
night in
_January. I'robably now there will be few
commitments at the existing range of prices, therefore
losses in the future should not be of importance. At
625, asked fur Odessa Ghirka wheat, 591. for
American spring, 425. for maize, 355. grinding
barley, but few millers and merchants will increase
stocks thus currencies give a healthy check to
speculation.
Whilst the upward movement in the British corn
trade continues, the foreign markets keep firm in
tone at good currencies. In France the provincial
markets of the past week have been scantily supplied
with grain, and as the demand has ruled fair, a slight
advance on previous currencies has been generally
obtainable both for wheat and for spring corn. In
Germany, business has been quiet, but the tone of
trade has possessed healthy strength. At Leipsic,
wheat has been in good demand at a little more
money than formerly. At Amsterdam, wheat has
been quiet, rye dull. kye has fallen slightly in
value, but wheat has been saleable at unaltered
rates.

The country's imperial averages have been steadily
falling for some little time, and this week we have
wheat fallen to 596. 5.11. Barley is at 48s. Sil., and
oats at 28s. 3d.
The week's imports of wheat and flour have
amounted to lyt,ooo quarters, a fair supply although
not a large one. Of maize the foreign arrivals have
been about 90,000 quarters.
The trade in arrived cargoes has been firm in tone.
Wheat has been steady, a restricted choice keeping
up value. Harley has not been actively sought after,
but firmness prevails. Maize has risen to 4t5, 6.1.,
with a good demand.

The aocks of wheat at the end of March in Lon.
(lon, Liverpool, Bristol, Gloucester, and Glasgow,
were estimated at 839,000 quarters, or not quite
loo,ocso quarters less than in 1873. Of maize the
bulk, moo° quarters, is but a fourth of last year's
stock.

The average price of corn per quarter (imperial
measure) in England and Wales for the quarter ended
Lady Day, 1874, was :—Wheat, 623. 2d. ; barley,
475. 61• • oats, 275. iid.
On Thursday, at Bristol, English wheat in small
supply, and 6d. per quarter dearer ; foreign quiet,
at an advance of is. to 25. Grinding barley, Indian
corn, and black Oats, 61. dearer. Beans is. higher.
—At Devises wheat and barley in good demand at
Ir. advance.—At Birmingham both English and
foreign wheat went up is. to 2a. Barley scarce, and
fine samples command high prices.—At Manchester
a similar state of trade prevailed.—At Newbury there
was an active trade in wheat at is to2l. more money.
Other articles advanced is.

On Friday, at Mark• Lane, continued firmness was
manifested. English wheat was in fair request, and
prices had an upward tendency. Foreign less freely
offered, and fully as dear, quotations ruling against
buyers. Limited supplies of barley. Extreme rates
paid for all descriptions, with a fair demand. Malt
changed hands at late rates. Supply of oats short.
Trade firm, and fine samples 3d. to 6d. per quarter
dearer. Maize steady in value and inquiry. Beans
and peas in moderate request, on former terms. Flour
firm, and prices well maintained.—At Derby trade
quiet but firm, wheat being is. to as. dearer. Barley
made extravagant prices—malting, 525. to sys, per
32 stone.—At Lincoln wheat brisk at 635. to 725. per
36 stone white, and SB4. to 60. red. Oats and beans
advanced is.—At Wakefield there was a moderate

business in wheat at is. to as. advance.—At Liver-
pool wheat was 40. per central dearer than on
Tuesday, and flour made 6d. to is. more money.

IMPERIAL A v =AGE..

a d. Qrs. a. d.
Whaat Barley
Qrs. i
Jan 0
..
.. 1 n l
44 4
,
-- 10 .. 37,778, 02 n 4,206 43 11
17 .. 65.534 63 70,4401 40 2
—24 .. 60,8221 63 05,047 441 0
—SI .. .6.11 63 164,140 47 7
Feb. 7 .. 44.4 433 58,538 49 9
14 .. AU. Cl 54,52. 48 9
61 .. 50,964 62 1 . 47,20 C 49 1
•
--
March 7 40,681 01 6 43,0.31 48 5
—l4 .142,5661 00 8 .13,704 46 4
—2l _137. 60 0 04.41. 44 1
28 .. 39,61-, AO 10 23,3" 48 0
April 7 .436,701 (10 3 15,553 48 9
11 .34,041 59 0 11,07 44 8
Six Ireek'S.lt
average ( 60 7 485

CATTLE.

IBRISTOL, TIWRSDAY.—About an average supply
of beef. The Irish consignments were shorter than
usual, but this was more than counterbalanced by the
large show of Prime English cattle. The Irish cattle
were a rather indifferent lot, and sold for about 25. a
cwt. loss than the English, the latter fetching 845.,
and the former but Sat. ; middling sorts realised from
735. to 775. We had a large supply of sheep, but
trade was quiet: Best wethers, out of wool, fetched
from 7,id. to &I. ; a few in the wool from 93id to
9il. • heavy ewes, shorn, fetched from 61d. to 7}(d.
We had a rather short supply of lamb, which sold
freely at is. per Ih., and in is few instances more
money was given. There were very few store cattle
from Ireland, and the trade w:ts almost at a standstill.
The milch cow trade was dull, and prices remained
about the sante. We had a pretty fair supply of bacon
pigs, which met with a moderate request at Its. 9d,
per score. The market was ovenione with porkers,
and they changed hands at front Its. 64. to tts. 9d.
MET ROPOLITAN, THUSDAY.—We have not so
many English beasts as on Thursday last, but there is
a Luger number of foreign; trade is very dull, and