AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 45, 22 February 1929, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

PLENTIFUL SUPPLIES. LOW PRICES RULE. EXCEPT FOR EGGS. This ifl proving a splendid season for fruit and vegetables, and in consequence the local markets are over-loaded in many lines, with the result that pilW* are unusually low. A comparison ith quotations ruling at this time last year shows, how the position has improved from the buyers' point of view.

In many instauces these returns are unreinuncrative to growers. Apart from main lines of vegetables there have been over-supplies this week of celery, for which there is little demand at the present time. Latest quotations are as follows: —

Potatoes, large well graded, free from blight and rust, 4/ to 5/ bag, others, 1/6 to 3/6 bag; onions, 2/6 to 3/9 bag; kumaras, 2d to 2%d lb; cabbage, 2/ to 8/ sack; swedes, 1/6 to 2/ bag; pumpkins, 4/ to 7/ cwt; green peas, 4/ to 6/ bag; beans, 1/6 to 3/6 bag; lettuce, 1/ to 7/ case; cucumberi, 3d to 6d dozen; vegetable marrows, 1/6 to 3/ dozen; water melons, 9d to 2/3 each; rock melons, 4d to 1/9 each; cabbage, on benches, 2/ to 4/ dozen; celery, 1/ to 3/ bundle; rhubarb, 1/3 to 1/9 dozen: spinach, 1/ dozen; pumpkins, on benches, 6d to 1/ each; spring onions, 8d to 1/6 bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 0d to 9d dozen; radish, 6d dozen. Fruit. The Tofiia brought a shipment of bananas on Monday, which sold at 18/, ex wharf, for original cases, rejects realising from 11/ to 15/. Oranges and pines came to hand from Sydney. The oranges met a keen market, and the lot was quickly cleared at 14/ to 20/ per case. The pines went cheaply at 10/ to 14/ per case. Apples which had been realising high prices for choice lines, are now more plentiful, and the price has dropped several shillings a caSfe during the Week. Tomatoes, which had firmed up after the slump, are again selling at low rates.

To meet the requirements of the public the brokers have agreed to commence selling at 8 o'clock in the morning, and this arrangement has been in force this week. Latest selling rates are:—Pears: Bon Chretien, prime quality, 5/ to 6/: •mall, 3/0 to 5/. Blackberries: 4d to 5d punnett. Peaches: Choice, coloured, 5/ to 6/6; others, 3/6 to 4/0. Plums: Satsuma, large, 4/ to 5/6; small, 2/6 to 3/6; Doris, 4/ to 7/; Purple King, 6/ to 10/. lomatoes: Special, round, smooth, 2/6 to 4/; No. l,.firm, 2/ to 2/6; ripe, 1/ to 1/6. Apples: Choice, coloured Gravensteins, 6/ ®/i green, 4/ to 5/; cookers, prime, 4/ to 5/6,; small, 2/6 to 3/. Nectarines: Large, choice, 9/ to 15/; inferior, 4/ to 7/ Lemons: Best quality, 12/ to 16/; others', Vto 8/. Oranges: Californian Sunkist navels, 40/ to 45/; Jaffa, repacked, 30/ to , Gra P es: Hothouse, prime, 1/ to ij ' ° , rß ' Cape Gooseberries: wtcW-lb. Sweet corn: 2/6 to 3/6 per najf bushel case. Bananas: No. 1 (ripe) 24/ to 28/.;, No. 2, 12/ to 15/. Eggs and Butter. 15?'® I demand , for eggs has continued ? n ' prices have advanced further since last report. Present quotations are: Hen eggs, full size, 2/ to 2/2 per dozen: intermediate. 1/9 to 1/11 - pullets, 1/7 to 1/8; ducks', 1/10 to 2/' Supplies are moderate. JO" J B , A demand for farmers' "litter at 1/ to 1/4 per lb. Poultry. At today's auctions the poultry supply Was smaller than usual, and the demand fairly keen. There was considerable competition for pullets, and a few •special lines of laying hens. Selling rates were as follows:—Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 4/ to 5/ each; not prime, 1/6 and upwards; light breeds, prime, 1/6 to 2/; not prime, 9d upwards. Fat roosters; heavy breeds, prime, 2/ to 2/6; • light breeds, 1/0 to 2/. Fat hens, heavy breeds, 2/0 to 3/; light breeds, 1/6 to 2/. Pullets, heavy breeds, full grown, 5/ to 7/; smaller, 3/ and upwards; light breeds, full grown, 5/ to 7/; smaller, 3/ and upwards. J/rakes, young, prime, 2/6 to 3/3; smaller, 1/ and upwards. Ducks, young, 3/ to 3/9necessary to advise members, after in-

Fob. 17, 1028. To-day. rotators per sijgar bug 4/ to 8/ 1/6 to 5/ Onions, per sugar hng . . !»/ to ">/8 2/6 to 3/D Cabbage, per sack 4/to 12/ •* / ' < ,*' ) *?J, Swedes. per bag . 4/ to .»/6 1/6 to-/ Pumpkins, per cwt 9/ to 16/ 4/ to 7/ Cucumbers, per i] 6d to 2/6 3d to 6d J.ettuce, per case 4/to 14/ 1/ to 7/ Green peas, per bug 10/ to 16/ 4/ to 6/ Beans, per bag . . 8/ to 14/ 1/6 to 3/6 Tomatoes, No. 1, per ease 3/ to 4/ -/to «/6 Tomatoes. No. 2, , per case 1/6 to 2/6 1/ to 1/6