The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-12 00:00:00

TINTED LITHOGRAPHY,

by Messrs. MACLURE, MACDONALD, AND MAC-
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Riberpoot tatibartif

TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 12, 1854

THE RESULT OF THE HARVEST-THE
PRICE OF BREAD.

NOTWITHSTANDING the comparative ease and
little expense with which might be made a very close
approximation to correct returns of the agricultu-
ral produce of the kingdom, we are still left to
' conjecture, and compelled to resort to calculations
of a speculative character, in order to form the
basis for an opinion as to the probable result of the
harvest, the gathering of which is now nearly
brought to a conclusion. By the last census, the
population of Great Britain was computed at
21 millions, from which, if we deduct 3 millions
for those who consume oatmeal, potatoes, and food
other than wheaten bread, there remain 18 millioni,
for each of whom we shall allow 11b. of bread per
day ; and as one quarter of wheat will make 500
lbs. of bread, this will give 5 bushels of wheat
for the annual consumption of one individual, or a
total for the 18 millions of 12,375,000 quarters of
wheat. To this we may add ten per cent. for flour
used for other purposes, making a total of
13,612,500 quarters for annual consumption. In
the next place, we shall estimate the quantity of
foreign wheat and flour brought into consumption
during the year at 4,612,500 quarters, leaving
9 millions as the probable yield of the harvest of
last year. We shall then compare the present har-
vest with the previous one, by allowing fifty per
cent. for additional breadth of land in wheat, thirty
per cent. more for increase in yield, and five per

cent. further for superiority of condition, which
will give a total of more than 18 millions of quar-
ters, or about 41 millions above the requirements
for consumption. We have, therefore, a positive
gain in the wheat crop alone of 9 millions of quar-
ters, which, estimated at only 50s. a quarter, is
equal to £22,500,000, or if we can calculate the
saving at 325. per quarter, or 4s. per bushel on
the estimated consumption, it will amount to
£21,880,000, in addition to leaving a surplus of 41
millions of quarters without receiving any foreign
whatever. This is, however, the gain
from the wheat crop alone, but it must be remem-
bered that barley and oats have also been very
abundant, while the quantity of potatoes is be-
yond all former precedent, and, further than this,
the turnip and other root crops are also most pro-
mising ; but, in the absence of reliable statistics, it
is very difficult to make even a reasonable calcula-
tion as to the probable gain. The total may, how-
ever, be fairly taken at more than 30 millions, or
above half the annual revenue of the country, a
profit to the nation at large, for which we are solely
indebted to the blessing of Providence, there not
being the slightest pretence that the wisdom or
foresight of, man, or the exercise of scientific skill,
which is the boast of the age, had anything what-
ever to do with it. We have already commented
on the peculiar advantage of this bounteous mercy
at the very time when, being engaged in an ex-
pensive war, for the sacred cause of justice, we
were more than ever likely to feel the ill conse-
quences of a monetary pressure, and we have
the more especial reason for making such
a public demonstration of national gratitude as
would show that we are not unmindful of our ma-
nifest duties as a Christian people. We, 'trust,
therefore, that the suggestion we made last week
will not be lost sight of, but that a Day will be
specially set apart for National Thanksgiving, lest,
haply, our forgetfulness and ingratitude should be
punished by our joy being turned into mourning.

supplies

One of the most important results necessarily
expected from so abundant a harvest is a corres-
ponding reduction in the price of bread, and some
impatience has naturally been manifested at this
reasonable expectation not having been gratified.
At Nottingham serious riots have taken place, and
attempts at similar demonstrations have been
made in other places. In one town a proposal was
made for the establishment of a Bread Consumers'
Company, in order to counteract a combination of
the bakers, who met the opposition by a simulta-
neous reduction, and very probably the same means
will be adopted in other places. In Liverpool and
the neighbourhood there are great complaints that
the public have not had the full advantage of the
fall in prices, and it may not be without interest
to examine into the justness of these complaints.
Some time since, when the top price of flour was
455. a barrel, the ordinary household bread was 9d.
the 41b. loaf. Flour has now fallen to 255. a barrel,
and yet, the same description of bread is charged
7d. the loaf. The fall, therefore, in flour is 20s. a
barrel, and as this quantity will make 66 loaves,
the corresponding reduction in the price of bread
should have been 31d. per loaf, which would leave
the baker rather more profit than before ; but as he
has made a reduction of only 2d., it follows that
the consumer is charged fully lid. a loaf more
than he ought to pay, We do not counsel a resort
to such measures:ae the snen of Nottingham have

rr

taken, but unless a further reduction of lid. pe
loaf be speedily made in the price of bread, th

public will be fully justified in combining for mu-
tual protection against the monopoly endeavoured
to be maintained by the bakers.

Another point of interest in reference to this
subject, is the probable consequences of the recent
fall in price to the many speculators in wheat and
flour. Such changes have often proved very dis-
astrous, and led to monetary difficulties not readily
appreciable by those out of their immediate influ-
ence. We do not, however, believe that this will
be the case to any great extent on the present oc-
casion. The majority of those in the trade made
large profits early in the season—they have long
been prepared for the change, by the knowledge
that, from the great breadth of land in wheat, even
moderately fine weather at harvest-time would add
considerably to the stock of home growth ; and,
moreover, consumption has been so great, that
many large holders have been enabled to clear
themselves at reasonably fair prices. On the whole,
therefore, we may presume that though many, who
have gone into the trade purely from speculative
motives, have been individual losers—the legiti-
mate members of the trade have sustained no in-
jury sufficient to shake their credit, or to lead to
the inference that upon the year's account they are

much, if anything, the worse. While upon this
subject we may remark, that it is a popular error

to entertain a prejudice against
wheat and flour, as though their ope.
inimical to the interests of the public. In times of
scarcity it is true political economy to diminish
consumption, which can only be effectually done by
enhancing prices, and it must also be remembered,
that, were it not for speculation, we should often be
destitute of supplies at the very time when they
are most needed. To corn speculators we are in-
debted for the large importations by which we
were supplied with food when our home produc-
tion was so scanty, and though it cannot be pre-
tended that the importer has any other object in
view than. his own profit, the obvious effect of his
operations is to add to our stock of food, and to
relieve the pressure which would otherwise be felt
from scarcity.

speculators in

tions were