AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 21, 25 January 1929, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

BIG SUPPLIES OF FRUIT. PEACHES A CHEAP LINE. TOMATOES A GLUT. VEGETABLES IN LESS DEMAND. The hot weather has ripened off tomatoes and soft fruits rapidly, with the result that large supplies are now being sent 4 o the market. The glut of tomatoes resulted in prices ruling at rates unremunerative to the grower. Peaches are so plentiful that very low prices are being obtained. Japanese plums are now coming in freely, but strawberries and loganberries are about done for this season. Apricots have come forward from the South in fairly large quantities, but owing to the hot weather some lines were not in good condition. As a result of the good growing season, supplies of nearly all vegetables are ample. Cucumbers are very plentiful, and «old at low figures. Cauliflowers are about done for the present. Potatoes, cabbage, lettuce and beans are in good supply. Supplies of eggs were only moderate this week, but the demand was poor. Prices were as follow:— Butter and Eggs. Farmers' butter, 1/ to 1/3 per lb, according to quality and condition. Hen eggs, 1/ to 1/3 per dozen; intermediate sized hen eggs, 1/ to 1/1 per dozen; duck eggs, 1/ to 1/2 per dozen. Fruit. Strawberries, 5d to 1/5, according to quality. Blackberries, 6d to 9d per punnet, according to quality. Apricots: 241b boxes, first grade, 6/ to 10/; second grade, and in bad condition, 1/ to 3/. Peaches: Coloured, 4/ to 5/ per 20lb case; others, 3/ to 4/. Plums: Choice Sultans, 4/ to 6/; seconds. 2/6 to 4/; Burbanks, No. 1, 3/ to 3/6; others, about 2/. Tomatoes: Ordinary, No. 1, 1/3 to 2/; special smooth, 2/ to 2/6; inferior, poor sale at 1/. Lemons: Best quality, 14/ to 18/; others, 8/ to 10/ case. Oranges: Sydney, 11/ to 18/, according to size and quality; Californian Navels, 32/ to 36/. Apples: Large, choice Gravenstein, 7/ to 10/; specials,, 10/ to 12/; inferior, 3/ to 4/; Astrakhan, special No. 1, 10/ to 16/; medium, 8/ to 10/; small, 2/ to 3/6; large cookers, 5/ to 6/; small, 3/ to 4/6 per case. Grapes: Hothouse, 1/4 to 1/6; specials, 1/6 to 1/9. Bananas: Ripe "A* grade, 18/ to 22/; seconds and mediam, 6/ to 14/. Vegetables. Potatoes, 2/6 to 4/ per bag; onious, 2/6 to 3/6 per bag; kumaras, 2d lb; cabbages, 1/ to 1/6 per sack; swedes, 1/ to 2/ bag; pumpkins, 5/ to 8/6 cwt; green peas, 2/0 to 5/ bag; beans, 6d to 1/6; lettuce, 6d 3/6 case; cucumbers, 3d to 9d dozen; vegetable marrows, 6d to 1/; cabbage (on benches), 6d to 1/ dozen; cauliflower (on beaches), quality poor, 4/ to 6/ dozen; celery, 1/ to 2/ bundle; rhubarb, 6d to 1/3 dozen; pumpkins (on benches), 2d to 1/6 each; spring onions, 6d to 1/ dozen; radish, 6d dozen; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips. 6d to 9d dozen. Poultry. At to-day's auctions the supplies were medium and fair. Selling rates were as follow:—Cocaerels, heavy breeds, prime, 5/ to 5/6 each; not prime, 2/3 and upwards; light breeds, prime, 2/ to 3/6; not prime, 1/3 and upwards. Fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2/6 to 2/9; light breeds, 1/9 to 2/3. Hens, heavy breeds, V* to 3/; light breeds. 1/6 to 2/3. Pullets, heavy breeds, full grown, 3/6 to 5/; smaller, 2/ and upwards; light breeds, 3/6 to 5/; smaller, 2/ and upwards. Drakes (young), prime, 3/ to 4/; smaller, 2/ and upwards. Ducks, young, 3/6 to 4/6; old 1/3 to 1/9. Drakes, old, 1/6 to 1/9.