The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-06-19 00:00:00

STEADY (LOW) PRICES FOR THE FARMER.

(From "A Report on the State of Agriculture in Lancashire,"
By George Beesley.)
. . . . .

.
It is said, that if free trade does not secure high prices
for the farmer, it will ensure their stability; that they
will not rise and fall with the vicissitudes of the seasons;
and the farmer can rely on his calculations of prospective
profits with greater confidence.
It is well known that, in consequence of difference of
seasons, the produce of the crops varies considerably ;
and heretofore prices have generally corresponded in in-
verse ratio with the excess or deficiency of the crops.
When the harvest was abundant prices were low ; and
when deficient, the advanced.

And, consequently, when the earth was filled with
abundance, all classes of the community participated in
her bounty. The farmer, by the excess in quantity, was
compensated for the diminution in prices; and by means
of diminished price, the public shared in the abundance.
In seasons of scarcity, all suffered privation ; hut the
farmer obtained some degree of compensation, by the in-
crease of price. But the efforts of free trade will be, to
preserve uniformity of price, whatever may be the varia-
tions in the yield of the home-grown crop.
Ifs general effect is, to cause the home prices to approx-
imate to those of the corn-exporting countries ; and, con-
sequently, in seasons of abundance, a very slight depres-
sion of the markets, or even the difficulty of sale, would
prevent any great degree of importation, and the home-
grower would have the monopoly of the market; but
when a deficient crop occurs, a price may prevail which
will leave the importer a profit. He will send out his
orders with confidence, and a large influx of corn will be
the result ; and the price of grain in years of scarcity will
not greatly exceed the price of the most prolific crop.
The truth of these remarks is confirmed by the experi-
ence of the past and the present year.
In 1834, the average produce of the wheat crop in the
parish of Kirkham was 16}* bushels per acre, and the
following year 231 bushels. The average price of wheat
in 1834, was 465. 2d. per quarter ; in 1835, 395. 4d. per
quarter. And the value of the produce of 100 acres, in
the respective years, will be :
s. d.

In 1834-100 acres, at 19* bushels per acre, will
yield 241 quarters, which, at 465. 2d.
per quarter, is worth 553 6 0
1835-100 acres, at 23a bushels per acre, will
yield 287 quarters, which, at 395. 4d.
per quarter, is worth. 5'54 8 0

Difference ll 2 0
But if uniformity of price were maintained in all sea.
sons, say 465. 2d. per quarter, then
In 1834—The value of the crop of 241 quarters
will produce 553 6 0
1835—The value of the crop of 287 quarters
will produce 662 10 0

Difference lO9 4 0
Thus the difference in the quantity of the crop will cause
a difference of 225. per acre in the value of land ; and will,
in some cases, make a difference in the farmers' receipts,
equal to the united amount of rent, tithes, and taxes.

The aggregate crop of wheat throughout the kingdom, in
1834, was a full average; and the deficiency of the crop in Lan-
cashire was produced by the occurrence of a storm on the wes-
tern coast, about the time of harvest, which did great injury to
the standing corn. In consequence of this anomaly, the pro-
duce of three years of average crops is made the basis of the
calculation, viz., 191 bushels.