The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-31
General Remarks On the State Of the
Petersburg Markets. &c.
PETERSBURG, December 80, 1s6

PETERSBURG, December 80, 1865.
Business being very quiet during the holt
days, and almost suspended as to transactions
of any magnitude, it seems neither necessary
nor useful TO present detailed report of the
markets. A few general remarks, however,
may not be without interest.
The only product that holds its own and
con tnues in active demand is cotton The
market during the week has been gradually
getting firmer from day to day, and the price
has advanced from twenty-five and a halt
cents TO twenty -four; which an article OF
prime quality would command to-day. The
receipts both for this week and last week have
been fair, though not so large as previously
1t will probably be the middle Of January
before it begins to come in freely again.
Last year the tobacco planters had greatly
the advantage of the cotton planters in the
way of profits, but now the case is reversed
The market is extremely dull, with no signs OF
speedy Examination. But ms soon as the fac.
| tories begin to work again we hope to be able
| to report better feeling.
AS The wheat crop has now been nearly all
delivered, have been 1T some pains to ascer-
tain how it will compare in the aggregate tc
formation I can gather, the product of the
State will not exceed one-third Of an average
crop before the war, while there is no prospect
of the next being any better. The average
price for the month of December for the last
nine years-not inclusive of the war times
is as follows:
Dece7nber.-Good White Whedt.-lSj7, Sl.3
1855, 81 43 1869, 81 1850, $751; 1861, Sl.4o
$3.50.
The peanut trade has grown TO be one OF
considerable importance in Southslde Virgil
mia, and all since the war. Before then the
crop was very limited, and the demand only
local Now we hear Of fields Of hundred
acres or more, and the demand comes from the
whole non producing portion Of the country
This year the crop is about three times he
large as it was last year, and that OF next
year will probably be increased III an equal
ratio Every producer speaks of extending
his operations, and others Will engage In the
culture for the first time. How the market Will
be sustained under this additional pressure
cannot be foreseen though the compara:lV
prices of last year and this year are not calcu-
lated to lead to the most sanguine expecta.
tions Then they were from - to $50 per
bushel; now but little more than 81. But on
the other hand it is the most popular nut III
the country, and grows in favor every year.
Moreover, it is a good paying crop al dollar
a bushel, of as easy cultivation as corn, and
yielding, say thirty bushels to the acre as
minimum, and hundred bushels as maxi
mum. The cultivation could doubtless be pro-
fitably extended far beyond its present limits.
They may be grown successfully on any fra
BILE land, with q fair dressing of manure, ano
liberal application-say from thirty to
fifty bushels-of lime or ashes. IL Is 40
solutely necessary for one or the other TO
be present in the soil to cause the pods to be
filled with good, plump beans. As matter
of curiosity-if nothing more-to your readers
1 q uote the prices which are ruling in the mar
ket at this time Common, soc. to Sl.25 per
bushel; fair, 81 go to s1.so; prime, 80 TO u
fancy, 80. 10 to s2.l5. BY the last term is to be
understood an article very bright and clean,
hand picked, and no 'pops."
The market is at present destitute OF any
supply of pork, which would readily bring
sl2. so to SIS.
Corn may be quoted at so to s5c. ,.