AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

FALL IN EGG PRICES. MORE GREEN VEGETABLES. BANANAS STILL CHEAP.

There has been a very good supply of all classes of fruit at the auction marts this week with dessert apples improving in quality. Hutt tomatoes are plentiful, and the market has not yet absorbed the last shipment of Fiji bananas, which are selling at low prices. A consignment of fruit from Sydney included oranges, lemons, and pines. Cape gooseberries are still in restricted supply. Latest selling rates are as follows: —

Apples,—Cox's Orange, 6/ to 10/ per case; Delirious. 7/ to 8/; Jonathan, 3/ to 7/H; Munroes, 3/ to 5/; Cookers, 3/ to 4/; seconds and culls, 2/ to 3/. Pears.—Louise Bon, 9/ to 12/; Packhams, 4/ to 8/6; Capiamonts, 7/ to 8/; Ciairgeau, 4/6 to 5/6; others, 3/ to 4/. Peaches. —Golden Queen, 7/ to 11/. Tomatoes.- Choice local, 4/ to 5/6; Hutt, 3/ to 5/; others, 1/ to 3/. Lemons.—Californian, 10/ to 22/, 35/ to 40/. Oranges.—Jnffas, 27/ to 30/; American, 36/ to 42/; Australian. 15/ to 18/6. Grapes. Coleman's No. 1, 1/9 to 2/4 lb; No. 2's, 1/3 to 1/8; Golden Queen's, 1/1 to 1/3; others, 9d to 1/2; Te Kauwhatas, !)/ to 10/6 case. Pines.—ls/ to 25/. Citpc Gooseberries.—sV6d to lb. Passions.—3/ to 6/ per case. Bananas.—Repacked, ripe, 8/ to 12/; seconds, 3/ to 5/. Mushrooms.—Selling at per box, average about 2/ per lb. Vegetables.

The market has been well supplied this week with cabbages and cauliflowers, mostly from Raetihi, Ohakune, Masterton and Lower Hutt. Potatoes are more plentiful, and include South Island consignments. Celery, watermelons, lettuce and other green vegetables are more plentiful, but quotations still favour the vendors in most lines. Latest selling rates are as follow: —

Potatoes: Southern, 11/ to 13/ cwt; local, 8/ to 10/6; onions, 9/ to 10/6; kumaras, 1% to 2d lb; cabbage, 3/ to 14/ Rack; cauliflower, 5/ to 15/ sack; swedes, 2/ to 3/ bag; pumpkins, 7/ to 13/ cwt; Kieen peas, 6d lb; beans, 5/ to 7/ bag; lettuce, 1/6 to 7/ case; cucumbcrs, 1/6 to 5/6 doz; vegetable marrows, 2/ to 5/ doz; watermelons, 3d to 2/ each; rock melons, 3d to 1/3 each; cabbage, on benches, 3/ to 8/ doz; celery, 1/ to 4/ bundle; rhubarb, 2/ to 3/ doz; spinach, 1/ to 1/6 bundle; pumpkins, on benches, 6d to 1/6 each; spring onions, 6d to 1/ bundle; citron melons, 4/ to 4/6 cwt; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 1/ to 2/ doz. E||t and Butter.

The arrival of a shipment of Canadian eggs has had a marked effect on the local market. Last Friday hen fcggs were selling at 2/10 to 3/ per dozen and ducks' at 2/4 to '2/5. To-day the quotations are 2/5 to 2/6 for hens' and 2/2 to 2/3 for ducks'. Farmers' butter is in fair supply, and there is a good demand at 1/ to 1/3 per lb. Poultry.

At to-day's auctions the number of birds offered wu« enormous, even exceeding the Christmas sales. The only line to realise good prices were the pullets. Helling rates were as follow: Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime 4/6 to 6/3 each, not prime 1/9 upward; light breeds, prime 2/6 to ZJ, not prime 1/3 upward. Fat Boosters: Heavy breeds, prime 1/fl to 2/; light breeds, 1/3 to 1/6. Hens: Heavy breeds 2/ to 3/, light breeds 1/6 to 2/. Pullets: Heavy breeds, full-grown 8/ to 10/', smaller 3/6 upward; light breeds, full-grown 9/ to 11/3, smaller 3/6 upward. Drakes (young), prime 2/6 to 3/, smaller 1/6 upward. Ducks, young 3/6 to 4/6, old 2/ to 2/6. Drakes, old 1/6 to 2/. Turkey hens 5/ to 8/, gobblers 7/ to 12/, gobblers (small) 5/ upward.