The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-17
DOWN TOWN.
The Money Market-Early Vegetables
and Fruit-The Beef Market
Miscellaneous.

The condition of the money market con-
tinues unchanged. Business moves steadily
along with no pressing demand for money.
The Boston market is reported as q fair de-
mand with little change In rates, and there
is little paper in the hands OF brokers. Gov
ernments showed no change except shading
off OF extended IS. The stock market closed
weaker than it opened.
Purchasing crisp lettuce with the mercury
nearly down to the thirties and eating spicy rad
ishes in a furnace-heated dining room are not
agreeable to New England traditions. Straw
berries are suggestive Of sunshine, and aspara-
gus, spinach and rareripes come with the
young maple leaves and tender rustling grass.
Whatever breaks the harmony of these ele-
ments is unnatural and repulsive; and though
the skillful tradesman tempts us to force the
season by decorating our tables with the early
products of Southern fields we do so
with mental reservation that we can hardly
conceal. There were early vegetables in the
market houses yesterday-some OF native
growth, produced by struggle between art
and nature, accompanying with the products OF
more favored localities They were not the
first, but they were more promising than the
first; and yet there was room for improve
ment. The supply was not very large-just
large enough for the demand, and late diners
left little of it behind them for another day.
Strawberries we're offered at 25 to So cents per
boz; the latter quite good looking but not
handsome Moist looking radishes retailed at
p cents per bunch up in the Row; spinach
wei t off moderately at IS cents per peck, and
per pie who ate cucumbers did so at an expense
of bout Is cents each, or INDUCED in rare
ripes at less cost of ten cents. With the ad-
vent of these early vegetables the ordinary
mind is relieved of care as regards the future
supply of fruits and vegetables in their season,
but capricious trade or tickle nature may in
terpose to derange the prices or break the con-
tinuity of supply. This year there is a threat
Of uncertainty from Southern heiGs. Inc
weather is alleged as the cause OF it, The New
York and New Jersey newspapers tell us, for
example, that asparagus has been much de-
layed by the unfavorable weather; that though
the season opened promising the later cold put
back the growth of the young plants, but that
we shall get the dainty vegetable later, if
there is anything left after the Gamers have
been supplied AT any rate the price on Mon
day was high and will continue SO until two
or three days Of good weather have appeared.
They tell US though, as an offset, that there is
an abundance of cabbage in the market from
Charleston and Norfolk. Peas also are plenty,
but string beans will be scarce for several
weeks The pant which grows this vegetable
is very tender one and easily injured by
FROST While the pea vine is very hardy
plant, and this accounts for the great differ
ence in the price OF the two vegetables this
season. Peas sold on Saturday in New York
for about $1.25 per bushel, while string beans
readily sold for upward of 80 per bushel. And
they talk Of a like gloomy outlook Tor fruit.
berries from Norfolk, and they are very poor.
They do not encourage us to look Tor Della
ware and Maryland berries before the LIST OF |
June, but promise that an abundant supply
will come forward later in the season II the
weather is favorable. Gold storms and frost
have periled the life OF the fruit. The pre-
dictions as regards peaches and cherries are OF
the same disheartening character; but as we
have not yet begun to anticipate the taste OF
these fruits we are content to wait for the
truth or falsity Of the predictions.
A general survey of the cattle markets OF
Monday, as reported in our exchanges, shows
an almost nnvarying tendency to higher
prices At Chicago the market was active
and 10 to Is cents higher on all grades; good to
choice shipping were quoted at IS. 80 to $40.
At Baltimore and Buffalo an advance was re-
ported; at St Louis the supply was almost en-
tirely grass Texans and Indians, which found
ready sale at stronger prices, and no export
stock offering. At New York there was no
export demand, but butchers were quick buy
ers at an advance Of to cent per pound, and
the demand not fully supplied. The receipts
were much less than last week, and far below
the average receipts of last year. Prime sold
Monday at $14.50 10 $500, an advance of
from Is to 80 cents over last week. Last year
the same grade Of cattle brought $1,000 to
1925 per hundred. There was no export de-
mand. The cable reports cattle steady; best
steers, II cents.
The New York dry goods reports, Invested
Of the usual verbiage, confess general dull
ness.
The report Of the bureau of statistics of ex-
port of breadstuffs shows that for ten months
ending April 80, the total value Of exports was
$157, SAG, 120, against 1926, ,795 for the ten
months ending April &c. 1881. The falling off
for the month of April as compared with the
month of last year has been
more than one-haf the value for April, 1882
being So, 1856 ,205 against S20,O41,00S in 1881.
The comparison by quantity shows a more
marked falling off than the comparison BY
value. In April, 1881, 100000 Bushels OF
Indian corn were exported valued at $4,251,-
600; ia April, $780, 1,999,0O0 bushels, valued
at $941, 900. OF wheat the total for April,
1881 was 10, 1892 900 bushels, valued at $12,-
256, 600; for April 1882, 47S 5000 bushels, val
ned at SIS, $50, 900. OF wheat flour the total for
April, 1881, was 654,968 barrels, valued at
So, 729,5 25; for April, 1882, 4S6,3l9 barrels,
valued at So .O89 040