AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

HEAVY APPLE SUPPLY. FRUITS GENERALLY CHEAPER. .VEGETABLES ALSO LOWER. Heavy supplies of. apples came on to the City Markets to-day, and only choice quality lines were in demand. Others were . very slow of sale, while inferior grades , of cookers were not wanted. Peaches ' have improved in value eonioared with ' last week, 'but generally prices ruling are still low. Plums were in poor demand, the first Greengages coining on the market to-day. Hothouse ' grapes were very I dull of sale, and poor-quality 'lilies Jiard . to quit. Good nectarines sold well, while Bon Chretien pears, which arc now in full season, were in fair demand. Generally speaking, supplies of fruit are'very heavy ,| at the present and values low. Following is the range of prices:— Apples: Albany Beauty/extra choice, 4/ to 6/ per case; small, 2/6 to '3/; Gravenstem, extra choice, 4/ to 6/; small. 2 6 to 3/; cookers, 2/ to 3/6. Pears: Cooking, 3/; Bon Chretien, local, 3/ to 6/; Hawke's Bay, 6/0 to 9/. Tomatoes: Outdoor, extra choice, small, 4/ to (5/; other*, 2/ to 5/. I Oranges: Californian, 27/ to 29/; .Jamaican, 20/ to 23/. Lemons:' Californian, 40/; choice cured, 10/ to 14/; others, 6/ to S/. Bananas: Ripe, 22/ to 28/. Pines: Queensland, 14/ to 22/. Grapes: Hothouse, Hamburg, extra choice, lid to 1/1 per. lb; others od to 9d. Peaches: Paragon, 2/ to 3/3 per case; 4/6 to S/ per crate. Plums:. Bui-bank, 1/6 to 2'6 per case; Sultan, 2/6; Satsuma, 2/ to 3/; Purple King. 4/ to 5/; Doris, 3/ to 4'(i; Greengage, 7/ to 9/: others, 1/6 to 2/6. Nectarines: Choice, 6/6 to 9/. Apricots: South Island, 6/ to 9,'. .Strawberries: Captain Cook,, extra choice, 1/6 to 1/8 iper chip. Blackberries: od to 9d; 3d to 4d lb loose. Raspberries: S/6 to 0/ tin. Passion .fruit: 5/ to 10/ iper case. Quinces: Vegetables. Heavy supplies of vegetables have come on the market this week, and prices for most lines have been lower. Cabbages and cauliflowers came forward in large quantities from Ohakune and sold at reduced rates. Lettuce was still in oversupply and cheap. Carrfts were much more plentiful and prices lower in consequence. Supplies of peas and ibeans were not as heavy as last week, and prices to-day were more than double those ruling last Friday. Good quantities of red pumpkins came in. Onions were in heavy supply, and choice lines realised good prices, but . lower rabies ruled for inferior lines, which were much more' plentiful . than last week. Ktimaras were in short supply, •small quantities of new season's realising high •prices. There was a good supply of choice celery, which was in very fair demand. Quotations.— Beet, 6d to 1/ per dozen; celery, dessert, 2/6 to 3/6 per bundle;' carrots, 3/ to 6/ per bag or 6d to 1/3 per dozen; cauliflowers, 5/ to 8/ per sack; cabbages, 2/ to 5/li; on benches,. 1/6 to 2/ per dozen; cucumbers, (id to; 2/6; French beans, 2/6 to 4/0 per bag; Wtringless beans, 5/ to 11/; green peas, 5/6 to 10/6; kumaras Island, 20/ to 22/ per cwt; Tauranga, 5/ to 7/ per bag; new season's, 3d to 4d per lb: lettuce, 1/ to 4/6 per case; marrows, 1/ to 2/6 per dozen; onions, Xo. 1, 7/ to 7/0 per bag; medium, 4/ to. 6'; potatoes, 4/ to 6/: Ohakune, 6/ to 7/6; pumpkins, choice, Red 'Warren, 6/ to 8/ per sack; medium, 3/ to 5/; parsnips, 1/ to 1/9 per dozen: radish, 1/ to 2/; rhubarb, 1/0 to 2/0; spinach, 1/ to 1/0; spring onions, 1/ to '2/ per bundle; swedes, 4/ to 6/6 per bag; turnips, 6d to 1/ per dozen. Heavy Poultry Supply. At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was very heavy and the demand was poor. The prices paid remain about the same all round. Selling rates were as.follow:—Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime, 4/0 to 0/ each; not prime, 2/ up; light breeds, prime, 2/6 to 3/0; not prime, 1/0 up. Fat roosters: Heavy breeds, prime, 2/6 to '3/; light breeds, 1/9 to 3/. Fat hens: Heavy breeds, 2/6 to 4/; light breeds, 1/6 to 2/6. Laying hens: Heavy breeds, 3/6 to. 4/6; light breeds, 3/ to i/. Pullets: Heavy breeds, best, 6/6 to 7/6; smaller, 3/ to 5/; light breeds, best, 5/6 to 7/; smaller, 2/ to 3/. Drakes: Young, prime, 2/ to 3/; smaller, 1/0 up; old, 2/ up. Geese: 4/. Turkeys: Hens, 7/6; gobblers, 10/ to 15/. Guinea fowls: 3/0 to 4/6. Eggs, Butter, Cut Flowers. Eggs.—Hen:" First grade, i/OYi per dozen; B. 1/10' i; C. 1/1. Duck: First grade, 1/11JS; B, 1/1014; C 1/314.' These prices show a rise of 2d a dozen on first and B grade hen eggs and Id on C grade. Duck eggs' are up 3d dozen for first and B grade, and Id for C grade. Farmers' Butter.—9d to 1/4 per lb.