Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 2.djvu/222

 in the same century is in connection with the interval between 1643 and 1649; in the latter year, it, sold for five pence a gallon, or one and one-quarter pence a quart. The probability is that it followed the ratio of increase in price observed in the case of other provisions. In England, the price of eggs fell from four shillings in 1600 to two shillings six and a half pence in 1645, one hundred or eight dozen being taken as the standard. For the rest of the century there appear to be no data. It would seem that, like butter, eggs rose in price towards the close of the century. The falling off in value for the first fifty years represented a decline from half a penny an egg to about one-third of a penny. In 1677, a year of great scarcity, the price of an egg was in Virginia fixed at one-third of a penny, but this doubtless was a much higher valuation than prevailed at a later date. In 1642, a capon sold in England at one shilling five and a half pence, in Virginia at one shilling six pence; in 1678, in England at three shillings, in Virginia in the same year at one shilling five pence; in 1700, at two shillings six pence in England, in Virginia at eight or nine pence. A hen or pullet in England sold in 1642 at eleven and a half pence, in Virginia at twelve pence; in 1676, in England at two shillings, in Virginia at ten pence; in 1700, in England at two shillings and six pence, in Virginia at six pence. In 1642, a goose sold in England at two shillings and a half penny, in Virginia at five shillings; in 1678, in England at three shillings and six pence, in Virginia at forty pounds of tobacco, which were equal in value to about one and a half pence a pound; in 1700,