The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-05 00:00:00

THE BRITISH CORN TRADE.

(From the Mark•lane Express)
The weather of the past week has been mild and
humid, permitting field labours on favourable terms, so
that a considerable extent of wheat has been successfully
planted. It has, however, not been so well for thrashing,
and we must expect to see some deterioration in the sam-
ples that may be calculated to create a dulness in sales,
though with an increased inquiry for dry foreign. Mon-
day's London report, though higher, had no excitement
about it, and sowe generally tied a calml response in the
country, but with a considerable variety as to the advance,
say from firmness only to 4s. per qr. ; but the average has
been nearly to 2s. gain on the previous week. The changed
aspect of politics may henceforth hive something to do with
prices, but certainlynotinthe way of depression. The ritual-
taneous occupation of the Papal territories by Francs
and Italy may embitter these nations against each other
and lead to the effusion of blood, which has already flowed
too copiously on a revolutionary account. But if the
mutual interest of these countries is seen by both govern-
ments to oonsiat in bridling men's passions, the threatened
stone may pass !harmless over the Peninsula ; and the
Pope himself wish for a quiet home. Still, we have yet to
wait the final issue ; and should war break out, farewell
to agriculture in its locality, and farewell to the hopes of
increased stores next season, whatever be the European
harvest, while the wants of the military will appear by
their claims upon every market which has the tempta-
tion of abundance. France is certainly not prepared by
her own resources for a heavy drain of cereals. Italy
has neither funds nor stores ; and the limited terri-
tory of the Pope will for once be found • blessing,
as there will be so many less mouth, to till. Indepen-
dently of this aspect, there has been great firmness on the
Continent. France, Belgium, and Holland have been
further looking up ; and though prices have fluctuated in
Dsntzic and Germany, the rates both of wheat and rye
keep at a fearful height for a vast and poor population.
New York, under the influence of the panic of the 21st
October in London, has somewhat yielded in prices, though
but little is miming forward thence. The arrivals off the
coast since Oct. 25 were seven cargoes, of which six caurrggoes
were wheat, and one barley. Business was transacted as
follows :—Wheat, 97 cargoes in all, viz., Ghirka Gd.
to 72a. 341., Marianopoli 70s. to 725., 13srdianski 70a 3d.
to 725. Culanka Gil.., Polish eat Gd. to 71.. 9d.,
Smitten:irk& 77.., Saide 545. Gd. to 595. 3d., Banat
645. to 665., Danubian 61s. 31. to 71a., Californian
715., Anoona 69a. Gd. to 711., Wallachian 575. Maize 3
cargoes, at 475. to 49e. ; oats, 2 ditto, Russian, Xis. 9d. to
275. lid. • barley 6 ditto, at 325. kid. to 355. ; rye, 3
ditto, at 51s. to 51s. Gd. • beans, 4 ditto, 41a. to 42a. 3d.
per qr. The sales of English wheat noted last week were
80,165 qrs. at 70s. 5d., against 79,359 qrs. in 1866. The
London averages were 725. 61. on 4,916 qrs. The import.
into the kingdom for the week ending October 2G were
805,705 cwts. wheat, and 65,471 owe& flour. Monday in
Mark-lane commenced on moderate English supplies of
wheat, but the foreign arrivals were good, including 5,000
qrs. from New York. The show of samples this morning
on the Essex and Kentish stands was inconsiderable, and
factors commenced by. asking a good advance, which for
some time checked business, which however was eventually
doneat Is. to' a. perqr. beyond the previous Monday's rates.
The foreign trade was very firm, and a similarimprovement
was generally realised, the demand being most active
for fine new spring American and Kuehn qualities.
Cargoes afloat were sold at 2a. per qr. advance. On
Wednesday there were 530 qrs. per coast, 16,450
qrs. foreign, with but email fresh supplies of home.
growth ; the market was wholly without activity, and
Monday's rates were only slowly paid. The demand
for foreign was also limited ; but holders evinced no
anxiety to press sales. Friday's returns were 1,180
qre. coastwise, 38,220 yrs. foreign. With but few
samples of English exhibited, millers were more re-
served than on the previous markets ; and to have mold
freely soma concession would have bad to be made. It
was much the same with the foreign exhibited ; and
occasionally we heard rather lower rates were
so-
cepted. There was • good arrival of country flour on Mon.
day ; and fair foreign supplies both in sacks and barrels.
The improvement in wheat gave morn tone to the trade in
country sorts, the best marks of which were full-priced.
Foreign also, of good quality, was quite as dear. Town
millers made no alteration in their rates. On Wednesday
there ware 1,090 sacks per coast, 2,510 sacks foreign. The
business then transacteil in country qualities wee very
limited, at the previous currency. Much the same state
' of trade obtained in foreign sacks and barrels, whits town
rates were entirely unaltered. Friday's returns were
1,180 sacks coastwise, 3,8.10 sacks, 0,550 barrels foreign.
This was the quietest day of the week, scarcely anything
having been transacted in Norfolka or any description of
foreign. There was a fair supply of maize, which generally
was held at prices too high for business. On Friday the
quantity received was 2,57A1 qrs. This grain all through
the week was a slow sale, in consequence of the high de.
wands of holders. The supply of ley on Monday was
moderato both in British and foreign qualities. There was
, very little extra fine malting offered, which was held high;
secondary sorts were rather in buyers' favour; grinding
foreign was, however, fully as dear. On Wednesday there
were 340 qrs. per coast, and 3,010 qrs. foreign. The trade
generally was without activity ,• the best malting sorts
were less in request, while escoadary and inferior qualities
were a slow sale at barely the previous rates. Friday's quan-
tities were 510 qrs. coastwise, 6,300 qis. foreign. Notwith-
standing the small English arrivals there was a very heavy
trade ; and to have made sales to any extent less money
must have been accepted. It was the same also with all
descriptions of foreign. The malt trade was quiet on
Monday. with less disposition to hold. No change took
place subsequently, and the week closed with more
heaviness.

There was a good arrival of foreign oats, chiefly Russian,
with a fair quantity of home and Irish growth, but none
from Scotland. Notwithstanding the good supply stocks
in granary were so low that there wan a fair sale at Gd. per
qr. advance for all qualities. On Wednesday ;there were
250 qrs. per coast, 1,300 qrs. Irish, 8,610 gni. foreign. The
small supply again excited the trade, and there was a
further rise of lid. per qr. on all good fresh corn. Friday's
returns were :Nio qrs. coastwise, 1,300 qrs. Irish, 24,040 qrs.
foreign. Though Wednesday's rise was then maintained
there was less activity in business. There was a fair
arrival of English beans on Monday, but scarcely any from
abroad. With few fresh English samples showing
in the morning prices were fully maintained.
There was no alteration in subsequent markets.
There was again a very limited supply of peas
on Monday, with no foreign imports. White peas were
wanted, and buyers had to pay about Is. per qr. advance.
Friday was more in calm. The linseedsupply was moderate,
and prices very firm. Cakes found a fair demand at anaal-
tered and no change was noted afterwards. Clover-
seed, both red and white, was fully as dear ; so was white
mustardseed; and canary was held for more money. Winter
tares continued dull. The wheat trade in the country va-
ried materiall ; some places where most money was asked
failed in • • it. Others, as Bristol, Manchester,
Oakham, Newbury, noted a rise of la per qr.; many fol-
lowed the London rise of is. tc 21., and many of full 25.;
while St. Ives, Bury St. Edmunds, and Ipswich were 2a. to
3s. dearer; Stockton quoting a rise of 45., with a few
others. Spring corn varied. Oats were rather dearer, and
white peas ; but barley and beans in several place* were
dull. At Edinburgh wheat was up 25., and Glasgow re-
covered the previous week's decline ; oats, beans, peas, and
maize being lid. per boll higher. Dublin found a free sale
for native wheat at Is. to Is. Gd. per brl. advance, oats and
barley being also up Gd. to 9d. per brl.

AGRICULTUR•L PEOSPICTS. —Tho week com-
menced with a threatening moand soon after noon
heavy rain set in, accompanied bail and a violent gale,
but this lasted for a short period. Monday proved
tolerably fine, sunny at times, and the atmosphereodder;
wind N.W., blowing strongly ; thermometer ..;.; degrees at
mid-day, and barometer down to 29.80 inches. In certain
districts field-work progressed steadily on the light soils,
but nothing could be done on stiff, clayey land. Tuesday
was a very wet day, with a much higher temperature ;
wind blowing fresh from the S.W. Our advice, on that
day were as under. Fr•ni Norfolk :—" We hare had
another week of favourable weather for Reeding.
To-day is wet, with the wind S.W." From Suffolk :
" Wheat-sowing progresses." From Northumberland :
" The whole of Thursday was (impend foggy, and early on
Sunday morning it rained heavily, blowing at the same time a
gale from the N.W. ; but with these exceptions the
weather has been fine ; wind varying from S.W. to W.
and N.W." Front the East Riding of Yorkshire it was
stated :—" The weather is mild and open, and in every way
favourable for out-door labour." On Wednesday there was
a continuance of rain at intervals, and autumnal tillage
was suspended ; up to this point not much has been done
during the present week. From the west coast of Scot-
land it was stated :—" We have had much rain, but to-day
is again dry." Thursday was a fine tley, but with the land
too saturated for field work. From Warwickshire
our advices stated:- "Weather during the week has
been changeable. Autumn sowing is progressing favour.
ably, although in the early part of the present
week a good deal of rain felL' From the check in
out-door work during the week, it is probable the farmers
will have thrashed wheat more freely, and the deliveries
may in coneequence increase. The atuountreturned reached
80 to ,165 qrs. at 70a. Id. against 79,292 qrs. at C7s. 6d. the
previous week. The amount of barley returned amounted
to 62,717qm at 425. against 58.967 qrs. at 41s. Bd. the
previous week. For the corresponding week of last year
this was also 41s. rid., but on 71,250 qrs. The malt
entered for exportation during the month of October
without payment of any duty amounted to 1,298
qrs., and if the demand were to increase, a larger
supply would be sent away to our colonies or elsewhere,
duty free. Thus the consumer of beer abroad gets the
benefit, as a great advantage over our own consumers. On
the whole, the mouth of October has been favourable for
the agriculturists—twenty dry days, and only eleven on
which any quantity of rain fell. This has enabled them
to bring up their work tolemb'y well, while the present
values of produce cheer them up a little. The month of
November oame in tine, the first half of the day being
sunny, and the remainder partially wet. On Saturday
the wind had veered to the north, and the day was cold,
bracing, and dry ; and no doubt field-work progressed well
and extensively. Seed samples are commanding ext-ava-
gant prices, from a determination of the farmers to have
none but choice and approved qualities, and they will make
great exertions to plant • ocnusiderahle breadth of land We
,anon,—bleriaene 'Urns.