AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

FRUIT MARKET DULL. BANANAS ARE DEARER. THE EGG POSITION. Both the.outdoor and hothouse varieties of local grapes fell in value during the week-end. Apples are still dull of sale. A few of the Delicious variety are being taken from cool storage, but these are not realising payable rates. Though prices for oranges remain low they are dull of sale. Ripe bananas sold at firmer prices yesterday. This fruit has been cheap of late. Ruling values are: — Apples: Delicious, ex cooler, 6/ to 7/; others, 3/ to 4/; Ballarats, 4/ to 6/; Munroes, 3/ to V; Jonathans, ex cooler, 5/ to 6/; others, 3/ to 4/; other varieties, 3/ to 4/. Pears: Coles, 7/6 to 9/; Clairgeau, 4/. to 5/; Keiffers, 3/6 to 5/; P. Barrys, 4/ to 5/; Peckhams Triumph, 5/ to 6/; other varieties, 4/ to 5/6. Tomatoes: Local, No. 1, smooth, 4/ to 7/; No. 2, 2/ to 3/6; Hutts, 2/6 to 3/6; Hutts, ripe condition, 4/ to 6/; hothouse, 5/ to 8/. Grapes: Hothouse, Colman, 1/6 to 4/6 lb; extra choice, a little more; Sydney white, 14/ to 16/ box. Lemons: Local, 6/ to 11/. Passions: 3/6 to 6/6. Persimmons: 2/ to 3/. Oranges: Island, repacks, 10/ to 15/. Bananas: Repacked, ripe, 10/ to 20/. Vegetables. Cabbage, lettuce and celery are in oversupply at present. The recent rain has brought most lines along more plentifully than before. Kumaras remain longer than usual on the market this year. Usually their season has passed by the middle of May, and their place, taken by the pitted variety from Tauranga. Prices at present are:— Potatoes, Southern, 6/ to 7/ cwt; onions, hard, firm, 2/6 to 3/ bag; others, soft, 1/6 to 2/ bag; kumaras, local, 2/ to 3/ bag; cabbage, 1/ to 4/ sack; cauliflower, 2/ to 7/ sack; swedes, 1/ .to 2/ bag; pumpkins, Red, 2/ to 3/ cwt; Crown and Triumble, 4/ to 6/ cwt; citron melons, 9/6 to 12/ cwt; green peas, 8/ to 18/ cwt; beans, heavy supplies, 1/6 to 8/6 per bag; lettuce, 1/6 to 4/ case; cucumbers, hothouse, 3/ to 5/6 dozen; vegetable marrows, 1/ to 2/ dozen; cabbage, on benches, 6d to 1/6 dozen; cauliflower, on bencTies, 1/ to 7/ dozen; celery, 6d to 2/6 bundle; rhubarb, 2/6 to 3/6 dozen; spinach, 6cl to lOd dozen; pumpkins, on benches.. 2d to 6d each; radish, 6d to 9d dozen; spring onions, 6cl to 1/ dozen; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 9d to 1/ dozen; leeks, 3d to 4d bundle; chokos, 1/ to 1/6 dozen. . Eggs in Short Supply. Prices for eggs have again advanced. Wholesale dealers state that it is not usual for prices to remain so consistently high at this time of the year. Fowls are moulting now instead of later on in the season. In the last fine spell the old birds were laying longer, and the young birds did not start. When it was time for the pullets to commence, the weather broke, and they did not lay; and at the same time the older birds left off laying. The result is shortage of eggs and high prices. Current .prices for first quality hen eggs are:— Special grade, 3/3 dozen; A grade, 3/1; B grade, 2/10. Duck eggs, 3/; A grade, 2/11; B grade, 2/9. Farmers butter is selling from 1/ to 1/2 a lb. Poultry. . At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was medium and the demand keen. The prices paid remain about level. Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime 6/6 to 7/6 each, not prime 2/6 up;.light breeds, prime 3/6 to 5/, not prime 2/ up. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, prime, 3/ to 4/; light breeds, 2/6 to 3/. Fat hens: Heavy breeds, 3/6 to' 4/6; light breeds, 2/ to 2/6. Pullets: Heavy • breeds,. • best ■4/ to 6/, smaller 2/ up; light breeds, best 4/ to 6/, smaller 2/ up. Drakes: Young, prime 3/6 to 4/, smaller 2/6 up; old, 2/ to 3/. Ducks: Young, 3/ to 4/; old, 2/ to 3/.