AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1931, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

MUSHROOMS VERY CHEAP. PASSIONS ALSO PLENTIFUL. EGGS A LITTLE DEARER. There have been few important changes in values at the auction marts since last report. Mushrooms have been in oversupply during the last week, and prices were very low, but cooler temperatures have reduced supplies, and to-day good quality realised 7/ to 9/ per ton. Passions are very plentiful, and have been selling at exceptionally low prices. Bananas are scarce and dear. The arrival of a cargo to-day from Fiji will give a little relief, but the quantities are small, due to Hoods having damaged the growing areas. Cape gooseberries are scarcely so good in quality following last week's rains, and the price is low. Latest quotations are as follow: — Apples: Cox's Orange, 0/ to 10/ per case; Jonathan, 4/ to 0/; Delicious, 2/0 to 4/; Ballarats, 4/ to 5/6; Northern Spy, 3/ to 6/. Pears: Louise Eon, 9/ to 12/; Cole's, 8/ to 9/6; Cole's, small,, 3/ to 4/; Clairgeau, 5/ to 6/; cookers and others, 4/ to 5/6. Tomatoes: Half ripes, 2/6 and -3/6; No. 1, smooth, ripe, 2/6 to 3/3; others, from 1/. Grapes: Hothouse, Gros Colman, No. 1, 1/ to 1/6 lb; No. 2, lOd lb; Hamburgs, 8d to lid lb; outdoor, Te Kauwhata, 7/to 8/per case. Strawberries: 9d to 1/. Lemons: First grade, 14/ to 18/; others, 7/ to 10/. Cape gooseberries, 4d to 5d lb. Oranges: Calif or nian, 27/ to 30/. Bananas: Repacked ripes, up to 3/9 per orange case for prime quality fruit; others, 20/ to 28/. Passions: Very plentiful, 1/6 to 2/6 case. Persimmons: 5/ to 6/ case.

Vegetables. A feature of the vegetable market has been the extraordinary manner in which supplies of green peas have kept up so late beyond the ordinary season. The market is glutted with this popular vegetable, which has been selling from 1/ to 2/6 per sugar bag, but improved to-day. South Island onions are now on sale, and potatoes from the same source are expected shortly. Latest quotations are: — Potatoes, 4/ to 5/ bag; onions, 4/ to 4/9 bag, or 8/ to 9/ cwt; kumaras, V/ad to lMsd lb; cabbage, 2/6 to 6/6 sack; cauliflower, 5/ to 6/9 sack; swedes, 1/ to 2/ bag; pumpkins, 4/ to 7/ cwt; citron melons, 4/ to 5/6 cwt; green peas, market glutted, 1/ to 3/6 bag; beans, 1/ to 2/6 bag; lettuce, 1/ to 3/ case; cucumbers, 3d to 9d dozen; vegetable marrows, 1/ to 2/ dozen; water melons, 3d to 1/ each; rock melons, 2d to 9d each; cabbage, on benches, 1/ to 2/ dozen; cauliflower, on benches, 1/ to 5/ dozen; celery, 9d to 2/ bundle; rhubarb»l/6 to 2/6 dozen; spinach, 6d to 1/ dozen; pumpkins, on benches, 3d to 1/6 each; radish, 6d to 1/ dozen; spring onions, 6d to lOd bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 6d to 9d dozen. Eggs and Butter. Supplies of hen eggs are short, and with a good demand prices have advanced 2d per dozen. However, rates are still 6d a dozen lower than they were at this time last year. Latest quotations for best quality are:—Hen eggs: Special grade, 2/4 per dozen; A's, 2/3; B's, 1/11; C's, 1/7. Duck: Special, 2/3; A's, 2/2; B's, 2/1; C's, 1/10. There is a keen demand for farmers butter at lOd to 1/ per lb. Poultry. , At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was medium, and the demand was fair. The prices paid remain level for table birds. Slight rise for birds and ducks. Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime 3/ to 4/9, not prime 1/6 up; light breeds, prime 2/ to 3/, not prime 1/ up. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, prime, 2/ to 2/6; light breeds, 1/ to 2/. Fat hens: Heavy breeds, 2/ to 2/9; light breeds, 1/6 to 2/. Laying

hens: Light breeds, 2/ to 3/6. Pullets; Heavy breeds, best 7/ to 10/, smaller 3/ up; light breeds, best, 6/ to 8/, smaller 2/ up. Drakes: Young, prime 2/6 to 3/, smaller 1/3 up; old, 2/ to 2/6. Ducks: Young, 3/6 to 4/6; old, 2/ to 3/. Geese: 3/6 to 4/3. Guinea fowls: 3/ to 4/.