FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 15578, 22 August 1914, Page 5

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Messrs Henry F. Moss, Ltd., fjmit and produce merchants, report for the week ended to-day : Very little business has been done during the last week, and most lines are extremely scarce, and people on the whole seem to have the war scare badly. It is unfortunate, while business can be done, that farmers who are holders of grain are not prepared to 'sell, especially after such a dull period' as has been experienced this season. This applies particularly to holders of chaff, oats, and wheat, the only line in over-supply being potatoes, which are offering steadily. During the week a fair quantity of meadow and clover hay has been disposed of, and the market may be said to be buoyant, and early consignments are recommended.' Potatoes.—The demand is strictly limited to choice samples. Table fjp-to-Dates, up to £3 15s per ton; Derwents, £3 12s 6d; Gamekeepers, £3 10s; south-ern-grown samples, up to £4 per ton; Scotia Reds, up to £4 ss; medium quality, from 2s 6d to 5s per ton lower.

"Seed Potatoes.—Very little inquiry. Southern-grown Up-to-Dates, £3 15s to £4 per ton; southern-grown Gamekeepers, £3 15s per ton; northern-grown seed Up-to-Dates. £2 iOs; northern-grown seed Gamekeepers, £2 to £2 ss. Chaff.—Consignments have been light, and market has advanced, prime black oat to-day selling up to £4 2s 6d per ton; white oat, up to £3 17s 6d ; dun oat, £3 15s per ton (sacks extra); medium quality, £3 5s to £3 10s (sacks extra). Straw.—Plentiful. Oaten, 40s to 42s 6d; wheaten, 30s to 32s 6d per ton. Wheat.—Market is very excited, and .almost any price asked for is obtainable. Seed wheat is being sold up to 5s per bushel, while fair quantities of fowl wheat is selling up to 4s 3d to 4s 5d per bushel; broken samples, 3s 9d to 4s per bushel. Feed Barley.—This has advanced considerably with all other lines; 3s per bushel.

Clover Hay.—Prime quality, up to £3 5s per ton; meadow hay, £3 7s 6d; medium, quality, £3 per ton. Consignments are advised.

Oats.—Considerable excitement has been created this week, and a fair amount of speculation for future business seems to be taking place. Prices are said to have advanced fully 3d per bushel during the week. It is hard to understand why this rise should take place, as it is generally considered that there are ample quantities of oats in the Dominion for all requirements. We quote nominally : A Gartons, 2s 3d to 2s sd; B Gartons, 2s Id to 2s 3d; A Sparrowbills, 2s 3d to 2s 4d; B Sparrowbills, 2s Id to 2s 2d ; black oats, 2s 3d; Danish, 2s 2d per bushel (sacks extra) ex truck.

Bran.—Scarce; 90s to 95s per ton. Pollard, £6 10s per ton. Crushed peas, 8s 7d per cwt (sacks extra).

Crushed barley, 6s 9d cwt. Onions.—Prime lines, £5 to £5 10s per ton.

Bacon.—Prime smoked rolls and hams, to 9i,d per lb. Poultry.—A better inquiry is experienced for all lines. We quote :—Turkeys : Hens, 6?d to 7d per lb; cocks, Bd. Geese, 7s per pair. Plump ducks, 5s 6d to 5s 9d; roosters, 4s 6d to 5s 6d; hens, 3s 6d to 3s 9d per pair for prime quality. Eggs.—The usual slump in prices experienced at this time of the year has been faced this week. To-day guaranteed stamped aTe difficult of sale at Is 2d per dozen ; ordinary cased, Is Id. We expect to see prices ease somewhat.

Butter.—A good demand exists for prim« quality lines. We quote :—Separator and milled, per lb; fanners' separator, 10id to 10|d ; storekeepers', 9|d to lOd. Honey.—Consignments have been coming forward steadily, but the demand is principally for 51b and 101b packages. We quote:—Bulk honey, 3|d to 3|d per lb, for choice quality; extra choice, 4d per lb; £lb pats, 3s to 3s 3d per dozen ; lib pats, 4s 9d to 5s 3d per dozen; 101b tins, -Is per tin ; 51b tins, Is Od per tin. Fruit.—Tlio market has been poorly sup plied this week. The non-arrival of the Melbourne and Sydney shipments has kept the market in short supply. Lemons have been inclined to hang, and the demand for New South Waj.es citrus fruits has been very keen.

Apples.—We quote : Choice dessert, up to 3d per lb; Canterbury Stone Pippins, 6s 6d to 7s 6d per case; small, 5s per case; French Crabs, to 3d per lb; small fruit, 2d ; Lord Wolseleys, 7s 6d to 8s 6d ; Five Crown Pippins, 7s 6d to 8s per case; Sturmers, No. 1, 7s 6d to 8s 6d ; No 2, 6s to 6s 6d per case. Bananas.—Fiji, ripe, per lb; as lainded, 9in, Els to 10s per case. Oranges.—Rarotonga repacks, 10s to lis per case; navel oranges. 14s to 16s- per case; Poorman oranges, 10s 6d to. lis 6d per case. Seville oranges, 13s 6d per case. Lemons.—Adelaide, bushele, 14s to 15s per case Mandarins.—ln shoit supply. Very choice, 12s to 16s per gin caso; 6in cases, 10s to 12s per case. Pines.—Queensland roughs, 12s percaee; Queens, lis to lis 6d per case. Passion fruit, 8s to 9s per case. I Japanese peanuts, 2Jd per lb. Braail nuts, 10£ d to lid per lb. Walnuts, 7d to 8d per lb. Barcelona nuts, Bid to 9d. Vegetable marrows (wanted), 5s 6d to 6s 6d per sack. Pumpkins. 4s to 5s 6d per Sack. Table carrots, medium sine, 4s per sack; horse carrots, 50s per ton. Cabbages.—More plentiful. Extra choice lines, up to 4s per sack ; other sorts, from Is to 3s per sack. Parsnips, 5s 6d to 6s 6d per sack. Cauliflowers, 4s 6d to 6s 6d.per sack. Cucumbers.—The first of tho season realised 10s to 12s per dozen. They were splendid quality. Lettuces, is to is 3d per dozen.