The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-06-12
THROUGH THE MARKET.
The Condition and Prices of Provisic
To-day.


the storehouses large refrigerating ma
chimes will be used, by which the two
upper floors can be cooled by pipes below
or very little above the freezing point.
The pipes will be placed along the sides
and ceiling of each room, and through
them brine-being water with consider
able salt, capable Of sustaining much
lower temperature than clear water-will
be constantly forced by pumps, the brine
having been artifcially cooled by contact
with pipes containing ammonia gas COM
pressed into 1900 of its ordinary space.
This system has been employed in many
market-houses in other cities, and the
principle employed is that used In making
ice The step is u progressive one, and of
value not only to the dealers but to the
public.
VEGETABLES.
Vegetables, improve with the fine
weather. The rains of the past week have
had good effect on the Branch" vege-
tables. The soil has been afforded with
excellent growing qualities, and by next
week all classes of vegetables from that
part of the country will be in the market.
The only vegetables coming to the market
from the South now are cabbage, tomatoes
and new potatoes, and by the next market
all the vegetables will probably be brought
from the Branch" There has been no
material change in the prices since last
week, with the exception of cabbage and
new potatoes. Firm, solid heads of Nor
folk cabbage, which last week were and
10 cents head, are now and 10 cents,
and new Charleston potatoes, which last
week were as high as 81 Il peck, this week
vary from 40 to GO cents. Old potatoes are
20 and 30 cents peck. Well-grown
punches of asparagus, sold by the country
women outside, vary from 6-cent
punches to large fine ones for 10 cents.
Large punches of rhubarb are and 4
cents bunch. Light-grown heads Of
Branch lettuce in excellent condition is
3 to cents head. kale Is bountiful and
is 10 and 20 cents peck. There are few
new California onions at 81 to Sl.2Oa peek,
which look very much like our com
mon onion Bermuda onions are 20
and % cents halfpeck, and bunch onions
are cents bunch. Very sharp and
strong-flavored spinach is % and 30 cents
u peck. Maryland green peas are better
grown this week; they are % and 30 cents
peck. Large fine decp-red dollhouse
Vans are 40 and SO cents peck String
beans are much more tender and delicious
this week, as they came from the Branch
they vary 40 to 60 cents peck. Parsley
is | cent, and thyme and sage are cents
each bunch. New beets are plentiful
and cheaper than last week; they are
and 7 cents bunch Bright, solid
purple elephants are just one-halfcheaper
than last week, at and 10 cents apiece.
Crisp and tender Branch" cucumbcrs are
3 and 8 cents apiece. Lubricous lima
beans are 10 cents n quart. The first
Branch cymbling was bought by Mrs.
J. Beck last Saturday for 10 cents; this
week the price of the same vary from to
| 10 cents apiece. High-flavored radishes
are to Scents a bunch Dried apples
are cents a pound, while dried peaches
| are Is and 20 cents. Soup beans are 10
| and ~ cents quart.
MEATS.
Spring lamb is about the same in quail
| ity this week as last week, which is very
| fine. Fore and hind quarters of the best
| grade is 20 cents; the same of lower grade
| 10 cents pound. The beef and mutton
| quotations remain unchanged. Choice
| mutton varies from 10 to Is cents pound.
Excellent mutton chops are Is to 20 cents
| pound The price of veal still varies
| with the market: outlets, choice, % cents;
| the same, good are 20 cents pound.
| Fillets remain the same, Is to % cents a
! pound. Veal is II to 20 cents pound.
The best roast beef is 10 to 20 cents q
| pound. Nice porter-house steaks find
ready sale, varying from 20 to 20 cents a
pound. Sirloin steaks are 20 cents, and
round steaks are 10 cents pound. Chuck
roast remains at IL! cents and corned beef
at 8 to 124 cents pound. Sweetbreads
are always in demand and they are from
30 TO 90 cents pair. Soup meats are
from to 10 cents pound The quota
tons of salt meats are also about the same
as last week. Fine lean hams vary from
| 124 to 10 cents n pound; the same sliced is
20 cents pound. Shoulders are trihe
higher, cut being 10 and IL cents; the same
whole is 0 cents. Breasts are 12l to Is
cents Salt pork is 10 cents and jowls are
cents a pound. Westphalias are II cents
pound. Beef tongue is very high Mt 90
| n a
piece is 16 to 20 cents pound; the same
sliced is % cents, and the same Clipped is
30 cents pound.
The closing of the fishing season on the
Potomac does not materially affect the
demands of the fish markets, only in the
way of the absence of the fine Potomac
shad and bunch fish, which the fish from
other rivers cannot compare with. The
absence will be greatly missed, but the
fish stalls are beautifully supplied with
fresh fish of most all other species, and
the market continues the same as ever
Among the finest fish in the market is the
boiling rock, which is 90 cents n pound
Halibutis 10 cents pound. White perch
are getting scarce, which sends the prices
up to % and 40 cents bunch. Goldfish is
abundant at 10 cents a pound. Pickerel
remain at 10 cents q pound, and fresh
mackerel vary from 10 to 20 cents a piece
| spanish luuCkpTcl are 10 NcllS u
Fresh salmon is the highest priced fish in
the market being 80 cents n pound. Sal
mon-trout, which are very palatable, arc
10 cents pound. Salt water taylors re
main unchanged at 124 cents pound
Sturgeon meat is II to 10 cents a pound
On smoked and sailed fish the quotations
were the same. Smoked salmon is x
cents pound; while the same sailed is II
cents Mackcrel, smoked, vary from to {
cents apiece. Eels are 10 and 20 cents &
pound. Sailed shad are ID cents u pound
while the same smoked are 10 cents. No
l mackerel are 10 and 20 cents apiece.
FRUITS.
The fruit tomorrow will be more luXu
rious than before this season. The good
fruit weather has given an extra tint to tho
cherries and size to the strawberries. The
first cantelOupes of the season were had
by Engle Sons, produce dealers, this morn
| ing. They came from Florida, and were
well grown, being large in size and mel
low in appearance. They will be sold to-
morrow at prices varying from 90 cents tc
reached the market The first ofthe sea.
sons huckleberries will be in market to-
morrow at 10 cents quart Sugar'loal
cents to the very large size at go cents
apiece. OXheart and May Duke cherries
are abundant at and 8 cents quart The
strawberry season is at its height, and the
| prices of the berries vary from g to II
cents box. The higher priced ones are
as large as walnuts Juicy Florida
oranges are from % to 40 cents II dozen
Lemons are 20 cents dozen, Large
| lunches of hnnnnaS are DrOfuSp. The