AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

SHARP RISE IN BANANAS. DELICIOUS APPLES ARRIVE. TE KAUWHATA GRAPES IMPROVE. / The exceptional run of cheaj* bananas has ended for the time being. The heavy stocks which glutted the market ripened quickly during the spell of hot weather, and spot stocks have been considerably reduced, with the result that prices have shown a sharp advance. Outdoor grapes from To Ivauwhata are now coming to hand in larger quantities, and the quality lias improved considerably. There is still a glut of tomatoes and prices continue low. Really choice I'nes sell readily, but big stocks of inferior grades come in and prejudice tli.e values of better class fruit. The recent rains have cracked and softened large quantities. Bon Chretien j)ears are almost finished, their place being taken by Louise Bons. Appies ,are plentiful, and the Delicious variety lias now been added to the daily offerings. Latest quotations are as follow: — Blackberries: 3d to 6d chip. Tomatoes: Choice, smooth, 2/ to 3/9 ease; firm, ripe, 1/3 to 2/; others, 1/ to 1/6; Rutts, 1/6 to 2/. Plums: Golden Drop, 5/ to 0/. Peaches: Golden Queens, 3/6 to 4/0; Ospreys and Lippiatts, 2/3 to 3/3. Nectarines: Scarce, 12/ to 13/; southern, 0/. Grapes: Hothouse, Haiflburghs, 5d to 9d lb; Gros Moroc, 8d to 10lb; Coleman, 9d to 1/5 lb; Muscat, 8d to 1/ lb; outdoors, in crates, 7/ to 8/6 elate. Cape gooseberries: 3%d to 4%d lb. Pears: Bon Chretien, firm, green, 4/ to 0/ case; ripe and seconds, 1/0 to 3/; Louise Bons, 6/ to 7/6; Packhams and others, -2/ to 4/3. Apples: Gravensteins, 2/ to 4/; Albany Beauty, 2/6 to 4/; Cox Orange, 3/6 to 5/6; cookers and others, 1/6 to 2/6; some extra choice slightly higher. Bananas: No. 1, ripe, 17/6 to 20/; seconds and mediums, 11/6 to 17/. Oranges: Jap, originals, 34/ to 38/; Australian, repacks, 15/ to 20/. Passions: Local, 3/ to 5/. Lemons: Fresh, 5/ to 8/; cured, 8/6 to 12/0. Mushrooms: Best quality, about 6d to 8d lb; others at lower rates, according to quality. Vegetables. Supplies of all classes of vegetables are plentiful at the auction marts just now, with low rates ruling for sonic of the main lines, such as potatoes, kumaras and cabbage. Green peas of good quality are still available from Ohakune and command a ready sale. Latest quotations arc as follow: — Potatoes, new, 2/ to 3/0 bag; onions, 3/6 to 4/3 bag; kumaras, local, heavy supplies, Id to l%d lb; Tauranga, 3/ to 4/ bag; cabbage, heavy supplies, 2/ to 3/6 sack; cauliflower, 5/ to 7/ sack; swedes, 1/ to 2/ bag; pumpkins, 4/ to 6/6 cwt; citron melons, 3/ cwt; green peas, 3/6 to 7/ bag; beans, 3/ to 6/ bag; lettuce, 2/ to 5/ ease; cucumbers, 4d to 8d dozen; vegotablo marrows, 1/ to 2/ dozen; water melons, 2d to 1/ each; rock melons, 2d to 9d each; cabbage, loose, 1/ to 2/ dozen; cauliflower, loose, 1/ to 4/6 dozen; celery, 6d to 2/6 bundle; rhubarb, 1/ to 2/ dozen; spinach, 6d to lOd dozen; pumpkins, loose, 4d to 1/0 each; radish, 1/ to 1/3 dozen; spring onions, 5d lo 1/ bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 5d to 8d dozen: leeks, 2d bundle. Eggs and Butter. With, cooler temperatures there lias been an improved demand for eggs, and best grades have moved up a penny. Latest quotations for best quality are as follow: —Hen eggs: Special grade, 1/5% per dozen; A's, 1/4%; B's, 1/1%; C's, 10% d. Ducks': Special, 1/5%; A's, 1/4%; B's, 1/2%; C's, 11 %d. Farmers' butter is bringing from B'/2d to lid per pound. Poultry. At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was medium, and the demand was fair. The prices paid remain about level. Selling rates were as follow: —Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime, 2/0 to 4/6 each; not prime, 1/6 upwards; light breeds, prime, 1/0 to 2/6; not prime, 1/ upwards. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, prime, 1/3 to 2/; light breeds, 1/ to 1/3. Fat liens: Heavy breeds, 1/9 to 2/3; light breeds, 1/ to 1/6. Pullets: Heavy breeds, best, 5/ to 7/; smaller, 2/6 upwards; light breeds, best, 5/ to 7/; smaller, 2/ upwards. Drakes: Young, prime, 1/0 to 2/; smaller, 1/ upwards. Ducks: Young, 2/6 to 4/0; old, 1/0 to 2/. Drakes: Old, 1/6 to 2/. WELLINGTON PRICES. Messrs. Lacry and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report present values as follows: —■ Apples: Fancy Cox's Orange, 0/ to 0/0; Gravensteins, 5/ to 5/6; Worcester Per- | main, 4/ to 5/; cookers, 3/6 to 4/6 bushel case. Peaches: Choice, 5/ to 6/; others, 3/ to 4/ half case. Plums: Choice, 4/ to 4/6; others, 2/6 to 3/6 half case. Lemons: Choice, cured. 16/ to 18/; others, 10/ to 12/ bushel. Passions: Choice, 4/6 to 5/; others, 3/6 to 4/ half case.