AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

PEACHES STILL PLENTIFUL

BON CHRETIEN PEARS CHEAP

CAPE GOOSEBERRIES OX SALE

Local fruit supplies are. very heavy at the present time, and consumers who are in a position to utilise the auction malts can buy very cheaply indeed. Bon Chretien pears are very plentiful, and prices are low. Peaches, too, are abundant, but nectarines are casing olf. lomatoes are offering very-freely, and the quality has greatly improved during the past week. Hothouse grapes are selling at much lower rates than usual. Bananas advanced in price at ito-day's auction. Cape gooseberries are now coming to hand, and good samples find a ready sale. Latest quotations are as follow: —I ears: Bon Chretien, 3/6 to 5/6 per case. Tomatoes: Outdoor, No, 1, 1/6 to 3/; second grade, 1/ to 1/6. Peaches: Choice, 4/ to 4/6; first grade, 3/ to 3/6; small, 2/6 to 3/. Apples: Gravenstein, 6/ to 8/, according to colour; Scarlet Pearmain, 3/6 to 6/6; cookers, 3/6 to 5/. Plums: Satsuma, 5/ to 6/6; Doris, 6/ to 8/6. Nectarines: Choice, 6/6 to 8/; others, 5/ to 6/. Bananas: Repacked, ripe, 12/6 to 15/ per bushel case. Blackberries: 6d to 7d chip. Lemons: No. 1, 12/6 to 16/; No. 2, 6/ to 10/. Oranges: Californian, 34/. Apricots: First grade, 5/9 to 6/6; No. 2, 4/ to 5/6. Cape Gooseberries: 5%d Io 7d per lb. Mangoes: 7/6 per tray. Grapes: Hothouse, 7d to 1/ per lb. French Beans Cheap. The markets are heavily supplied with potatoes, beans, lettuce and green peas. There are also ample supplies of cabbages, pumpkins and most other lines of vegetables. There is a fair demand, with prices generally in favour of buyers. Rhubarb is very cheap at the present time, and swedes are also available at very low rates. There is a glut of beans, and they are selling as low as 1/ a bag. Latest quotations are as follow:— Potatoes, 3/ to 4/ bag; onions, 4/ to 4/6 bag; cabbage, 3/ to 7/ sack; swedes, 1/6 to 2/6 bag; pumpkins, 4/ to 8/ cwt; green peas, 2/6 to 5/ bag; beans, 1/ bag; lettuce, 1/ to 3/6 case; cucumbers, nothouse unsaleable, outdoor 3d to 9d dozen; vegetable marrows, 6d 'to 1/ each; rock melons, 6d to 1/6 each; cabbage, on benches, 1/ to 2/6 dozen; rhubarb, 1/ to 2/ bundle; spinach, 9d to 1/ dozen; pumpkins, on benches, 3d to 1/6 each; Radish, 6d to 9d dozen; spring onions, 3d to 6d bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 6d to 1/ dozen. Butter and Eggs. The supply of eggs at present is only moderate, and the higher prices are checking the demand. Currant rates for good quality eggs are as follow:— Hen: Special grade, 1/11 per dozen; A grade, 1/10; B grade, 1/8, C grade, 1/3. Duck: Special grade, 1/ lU; A grade, 1/9; B grada, 1/8, (J grade 1/5. There is a good demand for farmers' butter at 1/ to 1/1 per lb. Poultry. At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was small, and the demand was fair. The prices paid were low. Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime, 3/3 to 4/6; not prime, 1/6 upwards; light breeds, prime, 1/9 to 2/9; not prime, 1/ up. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, prime, 1/9 to 2/6; light breeds, 1/6 to 2/. Eat hens: Heavy breeds, 2/6 to 3/3; light breeds, 2/ to 2/6. Pullets: Heavy breeds, best, 8/ to 10/6; smaller, 3/ upwards; light breeds, best, 5/ to 7/; smaller, 2/6 upwards. Drakes: Young, prime, 3/ to 4/6; smaller, 2/ to 3/; old, 1/6 to 2/6. Ducks: Young, 3/ to 4/; old, 2/ to 2/6. Geese: 3/ to 5/. Guinea fowls: 3/ to 5/.