270 ECONOMIC ESSAYS IN HONOR OF JOHN BATES CLARK
average number of bushels delivered in August during the ten
year period is 11,879,900, or 9.8 per cent of the total average
delivery for the year; in September it is 15,658,300 bushels, or
12.9 per cent of the total delivery, and this is the maximum for
any month. The months of small delivery are April, May, and
June, with percentages of 5.2, 5.1, and 4.4, respectively. In the
ase of oats the average number of bushels delivered in August
is 12,377,800, or 13.2 per cent of the total average delivery for
he year, and this is the maximum for any month. The months
of small delivery are December, February, April, and July, with
percentages of 6.7, 6.7, 6.6, and 6.2, respectively. In the case of
orn, the average number of bushels delivered in December is
10,949,900, or 10.4 per cent of the total average delivery for the
year; in June it is 13,097,600, or 12.4 per cent of the total, and
his is the maximum for any month. The months of small
delivery are April, May, and October, with percentages of 5.3,
5, and 5.5, respectively. In the case of cotton the average
number of bales delivered in October is 1,163,400, or 18.5 per
cent of the total average delivery for the year; in November it is
1,275,500 or 20.3 per cent of the total, and this is the maximum
or any month. The months of small delivery are August, May,
June, and July, with percentages of 2.6, 2.6, and 1.6, and 1.2,
respectively. The average number of bales of cotton ginned in
October is 4,526,110, or 37.0 per cent of the total, and this is the
maximum for any month; in November it is 2,737,399, or 22.4
per cent of the total. The months of small ginnings are August,
and January, with percentages of 4.1 and 2.2 respectively.
Up to this point the discussion of price movement has been
onfined to those products which are traded in on the organized
exchanges. I will now consider the price movement of an impor-
ant product, wool, in which organized future trading is absent,
and which therefore, while actively speculated in, is not subject
o the same stabilizing influence as wheat, for example.
The bulk of the wool is removed from the sheep’s backs during
the months of May, June, and July; and, if the wool grower is so
inclined he may grade and dispose of all his wool by the end of
this period. Under normal conditions, July is the month of heavy
movement to market; and during this month we should expect,
according to the advocates of holding, a glutted market and low
seasonal prices. However, a study of the price movement over
any
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