AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 290, 8 December 1931, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

GOOD STRAWBERRY SEASON. APRICOTS FROM THAMES. SHAKP DROP IX TOMATOES. Large quantities of strawberries are now coming lorward u> the marts daily, and prices vary according to weather conditions, which largely determine the supply. Ihe quality, on the whole, is excellent, and yesterday's rain will do a lot to maintain a good supply of first-grade berries. Hothouse tomatoes are now plentiful, and_ prices have receded. Large quantities of gooseberries have been available this season, and with a good, steady demand values have been quite satisfactory. A few apricots have come forward from the Thames, but so far the samples have been rather email. Cherries come to hand regulariy from. Greytown, and prices have eased during the last few days. There has been a rather better demand for lemons at recent auctions. With 60 much of new reason's fruit about apples are comparatively dull of sale. The market, is solely euppiied with Canadian, vrith. the exception of a few Stunners.

A consignment of citrus fruit arrived from Sydney too late for eale to-day. Latest quotations are as follow: — Tomatoes: Hothouse, firm, 7d per lb; ripe, 4d to 6d; small, 2d to 4d; outdoor, 2d to 4d; others. 3d to tid; outdoor, 3d to sd. Gooseberries: 3,'b" to 5; per case. Cherries: Greytown, 5/ to 7/; Australian, 6/ to 10/. Plums: Christmas, local, 3/ to 4/; Wilson's Early, local, 4/ to 5/; Australian, according to condition, 8/ to 11/. Loganberries: 7d to 9d per chip. Lemons: 6/ to 10/. Oranges: Poorman, 4/ to 6/; Australian Valeacias, 8/ to 11/6; double cases, 15/ to 19/. Apricots: Thames, 3/6 to 7/. Bananas: Prepacked, ripe, No. Is, 16/ to 18/; No. 2's and mediums, 12/ to 14/. Apples: Stunners, S/ to 9/6; Delicious, Hawke's Bay, 7/ to 9/; Canadian, 18/ to 22/. Pears: Nelis, 6/ to 8/. Strawberries: Captain Cooks, 10d to 1/2 per chip; Marguerites, to 9d; Helenslea Surprise, 7d to 9d.

French Beans Cheap. There are abundant supplies of new season's vegetables at the mart just now, and these are meeting a normal demand. The bulk of the offerings come from the Avondale and Mangere districts. Quality, generally gpeaking, is excellent, though there is a lack of heart in most of the lettuce, due to the cold, dry weather which prevailed a few weeks ago. Now that peas and French beans are available at low prices the demand for cabbage and cauliflowers is considerably restricted. Latest quotations are as follow: — Potatoes, new, 4/ to 5/3 bag; onions, local, 6/ to 7/6 bap; Australian, 18/ cwt; kumaras, Island, 7/ eack; cabbage, 1/ to 3/6 sack; cauliflower, 3/ to 7/ 6ack; swedes, new season's, 2/6 to 3/6 bag; pumpkins, 25/ to 30/ cwt; green peas, 3/ to 5/6 bag; beans, French, 2*£ d to 3d lb; broad beans, 1/6 to 2/6 bag; lettuce, 1/6 to 4/ case; cucumbers, 1/6 to 4/ dozen; vegetable marrows, 2/ to 5/ dozen; cabbage, loose, 1/ to 2/ dozen; cauliflowers, loose, 2/ to 4/ dozen; rhubarb, 1/ to 2/ dozen; spinach, 6d to 10d dozen; pumpkins, loose, 1/6 to 4/6 each; radish. 3d to 6"d dozen; spring onions, 4d to 9d bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 6d to 1/6 dozen; asparagus, 6d to 9d bundle; leeks, 2d to 4d bundle.

Eggs and Butter. There have been moderate supplies of ecgs at the marts this week, and a good demand at current rates. Pullet eggs are increasing in quantity, and the price of these is in accordance with their smaller size. Latest quotations are as folio-*- for best Mnality:—Hen eggs: Special grade, 1/1% per dozen: A's. 1/0%; B's. C's. 7 X /H. Ducks': Special, \j\Vz\ A's, I/O 1 *: B's=. C's. 9^d. Fan..as' butter supplies are short, and there i≤ *i good demand at BVsd to lid per lb.

; Poultry. ! At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was fair, and the demand was good. ! The prices showed little change. Selling ! rates were a≤ follow: — . Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime 3,0 to 5'6 each, not prime 2/ up; light breeds, prime 2/3 to 3/3, not prime 1.3 up. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, prime. 3 6 to 2/; light breeds. I 3 to 1/9. Fat hens: Heavy breeds, 2/ to 2.6; light breeds, 1/4 to 1/9; Laying hens: Heavy breeds, 5, to i : light breeds. 3/ up. Pullets: Heavy breed.-, host 5/ to 7/. smaller 3/ up. Drakes: Youusr, prime, 2 '3 to 3 6; young, smaller. 1 6 up. Ducks: Young. 3/3 to 4 3: old. 1 0 to 2/. Drakes: Old, 1/6 to 1/9. Geese: 5/ to G . Turkey hens: 6/ to 9/; gobblers, 7/ to 36/. Cockerel chicks: Heavy breeds, 3d up; light breeds, IVid up.