AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

HEAVY FRUIT SUPPLY. BANANAS AT HIGH PRICES. MOST VEGETABLES CHEAP. Supplies of fruit on the City Markets have again been heavy this week, peaches and plums l>eiug still very low in price, except for extra choice quality. Tomatoes have finned up in price, however, and while supplies were t^till heavy values were higher to-day. South Island apricots are arriving in good supply and selling well. Black currants are almost , finished for the season, and also strawberries, both lines selling well. Ripe bananas were in short supply-to-day. and realised the njaximumi price allowed under Government control. Oranges, however, were plentiful, supplies ol l.'aliiorii iu ii having been released from <-oyl store, and Jamaican being still available. Their sale was slow. Hothouse ►napes came forward in increased qiian-titii-s, but tlie demand was only tail. Cooking apples were low m price, but highly coloured lines sold well. Prices • ranged as follows:-»A|»ples: Albany Beauty, fl, to 10/ case; Gravenstein, coloured to !)/, others 4/ to j '. cookeix, 2/ to 3 0; Astrachan, 4, to 7,0; windfalls und others, 2/ to 2/0. Tomatoes: Outdoor, extrft choice, smooth, 4/ to 5, 0 ease: others, 2' to 4/9. Oranges: Califor lain, 27/ to 32/: Jamaican, 20/ to 26 . Lemons: Choice cured, G O to 9/ ease; others, 4/ to j/. Bananas; Ripe. 28/ case. Pines: Queensland, 18/ to 25/6 case. Grapes: Hothouse, Hamburg, extra choice, up to 10 lb; others. Oil to 1/3. Peaches: Mamie Ross and Wiggins, 2/3 to 3/ case, extra choice 7/ to 9/ crate; others, 4/6 to 5 0 crate. Plums: Burbank, 2/ to 2/6 case; Sultan, 1/6 to 2/6; Satsuina, 2/ to 3/: Purple King. 5/ to 9/; others, 1/6 to 2, 6. Nectarines: Choice, 7/ to 8/6 case. Apiicots: South Island, 6/ to 8/6 case. Strawberries*: Captain Cook, extra choice, 1/6 to 1/9*6 chip; others. 1/3 to 1/5. Blackberries: 7d chip. Black currants: 7-'ls to 8/6 case. Cherries: Extra choice, I 13/6 case.

Vegetables Plentiful. The markets have been well supplied wit.'h most lines of vegetables this week, and prices for some lines have Iveen very low. Potatoes were marketed in heavy quantities to-day. values dropping lowest level lot some time. Lettuce was very plentiful and cheap. Good quality lettuce sold at low prices, while second •ri ado was unsaleable. New season's kuinaias made their fiixt appearance to-day. and brought fancy prices. Good supplies of cabbages were offered, and the demand was fairly good. Ohakune cabbages are increasing in quantity, and the quality is excellent. Green peas anil beans were still very plentiful, buf l both lines advanced in price to-day, the latter having sold at very lowrates recently. Good coloured vipe pumpkins sold well, and onions had a ready sale wit'h good supplies available. Carrots and parsnips realised good prices, while cucumbers and marrows were low. New season's celery is increasing in supply and selling quite well. Quotations: —Beet, 6d to 1/ dozen; dessert celery, 2/ to 2/9 bundle. 3/ to 8/ bag, 1/ to 2/ dozen; cabbages. 2/ to 8/ sack. on benches 1/ to 2/ dozen; cucumbers, 6d to 2/ dozen; French beans. 1/ to 2/ bag; stringless beans. 2/6 to 7/ bag; green peas. 3 0 to 7/ bait: kuniaras, new season. 3Vi< 1 j to 5d lb; leeks, Oil to 9d bundle; lettuce, j 1/ to 4/0 case: marrows, 9d to 2/ dozen; j onions. 6/ to 7/ bag: potatoes, new. No. j 1 3/6 to 5/6. Xo. 2 1/ to 2/: pumpkins. ! Red Warren, choice. 8/6 to 12/ c\rt : 1 medium. 5/ to 8/ sack: parsnips. 1/6 to 2'3 dozen: radish. 6d to !)d dozen; rhubarb, I 1/ to 2/6 dozen; spinach, 1/ to 1/6 dozen; \ spring onions, 6d to 1/ bundle; swedes, 2/6 to 4/6 bag; turnips, 6d dozen. i Poultry. At to-dayV auctions the supply of poultry was fairly heavy, and the demand was very fair for most lines of table birds, good pullets selling at a much higher figure jthan last sale. Selling rates weiv: I Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime, 5/ to 7/6 each: not prime. 2/ to 3 ; ligfit breeds, prime, 2' to 3/0; not prime. 1/ to 2/. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, 2/ to 3/: light breeds. I 6 to 20. Fat hens: Heavy breeds, 2 i) to 4': light breeds. 1 '9 to 2 0. Laying liens: Heavy breeds. 3/ to 4/; light bieeds. 2/ to 3'. Pullets: Heavy breeds, best. 5/ to o'6: smaller, 2/ upwards: light breeds. l>est, 5 / to 6.'; smaller. 16 upwards. Drakes: Young, prime, 2/6 to 33; smaller, 2/ upwards; old. 2/ to 3/. Ducks: Young. to 5/6; old. 2/ to 3 1 . CJeese: 4/ to 6/. Turkeys: Hens. 5/ to 8": gobblers, 10/ to 13/. Guinea fowls: 3/6 to 5/. Eggs, Butter, Cut Flowers. EgKT prices were lip Id all round, as follows:—Hen: First grade. 1/10% dozen; B grade, l,'B'/4: C grade. 1/OV4. Duck: First grade. 1/7 x h dozen; B grade, 1/6%: C grade, 1/1%. Farmers' butter. 1/1 to 1/2% lb. Cut Flowers. —-The supply was moderate to-day. with an improved demand. Good carnations sold well. Quantities of gladioli are decreasing, and values have improved.