The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-07-03
FOOD For THOUSANDS.
Points Picked UP in the Markets
Perambulating Reporter.

row from 4 o'clock O. IN. to II o'clock p
m. The glorious Fourth falls on bad
day for our marketmen, whose policy
seems TO be business first and pleasure af-
terward. Serving the people will be their
pleasure, and If the people serve them
that will be all the recreation they desire.
The fruits have all received an extra
polish. The vegetables look bright and
fresh, and the stalls have been rearrangcd,
as if expectant of q busy day.
VEGETABLES.
The vegetable stalls are beautifully
supplied this week with Maryland green
corn, which is in much better condition.
The white delicious andNuicy ears peep
ing out from the green husk, make them
the most tempting luxuries in the vcge-
table line. They are 80 and 40 cents a
dozen. Maryland rutabaga tlrnips made
their first appearance this season yoster-
day. They are wcll-grown, large in size,
and punches, containing three, are cents
q bunch. Large snowy heads of outdoor
cauliiower 10 and % cents Il head. Let
tuce is in most excellent condition, and
the price has risen to and 8 cents head.
Egg-plants properly fried in batter make
delicious dish They are in good condi-
ton; the price varies from 10 to 30 cents
apiece.
Maryland squash or cymlings are % cents
dozen. CuCufilbers are in finer condition
than at any other time this season, and
are % and % cents Il dozen. Beets are
about the same rs last week at cents q
bunch. Bermuda onions are 80 cents a
peck. Bunch onions of high flavor con-
tinue ut cents bunch or three punches
for 10 cents. New potatoes from the South
which have supplied the market during
the spring and early summer have been
superseded by the Maryland Early
4, ,,h ia NnVin In, ii
quality. The price has dropped down to
80 and 40 cents peck, which bring the
old potatoes, which are preferable to some,
TO % and 30 cents q peck. Maryland Is
also putting up her own cabbage, firm,
solid heads of which are s and 10 cents
each slight advance over last week.
Peas and string beans are very nice for 30
cents peck each. Asparagus is nearly
gone, some long, slender punches, whose
tips very forcibly suggest fly brushes, may
be bought for S cents; good asparagus eX-
cellent for salad, is 10 cents bunch. To-
matoes improve in quality each week;
those from the Branch this week are
the finest so far this season. They are
firm and solid, and in dark red color as
sure their maturity. They are S1.40 q
peck. Imported tomatoes of an inferior
quality may be bought for$1 peck. Spin
ach continues at % and 30 cents peck.
Parsley is two cents and thyme and sage
are one cent Duncn eacU.
FRUITS.
The intense cold of the past winter has
injured nearly all fruits at the West and
has killed outright many grapes, pears,
and tender apple trees. Should there be
a good season for agricultural products
| to cause better times, we may reasonably
| look for higher prices for fruit than have
prevailed for the past three or four years.
The display of fruits on the fruit stalls
| this week is especially pretty and tempt
ing, and in prices are unusually reason
able. Great, cool-looking watermeons
from far-oif Georgia have dropped down
| to 80 and 80 cents each. Canteloupes are
| scarce and range from 20to 45 cents apiece.
Excellent high-scented sugar-loof pine
| apples vary from 10 to 30 cents each, the
size, of course, determining the price.
| lessened by the cold weather and want oil
rain, and for the past week the supply has
been very limited and the prices high
Those in market are of good size and in
elegant condition at IL to % cents q box
Raspberries, black and red, are 10 cents q
quart. lluckleberries ditto; gooseberries
for cooking, are 10 cents quart. Black
women outside for Sand 10 cents quart
New currents are 10 and l5cents a
quart. Peaches are gradually creeping
nearer home. We have them now from
Tennessee, but they are not as large. OF
pretty as those from California; the prices
vary, from 81 to 81 90 peck; California
Bartlett pears, rosy and golden, mellow
| and juicy, but shorter than our own
Bartletts, adorn the vendors stalls at q
cents q box. A box contains about five
The pretty red plums from California
brighten everywhere the fruit stands, and
are Is to 25 cents box. Aprcots retain
the delicate tint which always makes
| ln,, tn1 Inn q rr "a
Bananas from good to choice are % to u
cents dozen. Sour Marlla cherries fol
cooking purposes are the only fruit of tina
class in the market, and are and cents
quart Florida oranges are 20 and A
cents dozen, Lemons are % cents, ant
lines 20 cents dozen. June apples To-
cooking are 40 cents peck.
FISH
The season having opened last Monda!
for the catch Of spats, pompinos and no;
fish members of the tinny tribe from
the lower Potomac, the fishermen, tru
to their promise of last week, have hat
the fish stalls well supplied with those de
licious fish since then. There are but fey
anglers in the city who ever went dowi
the Potomac on fishing cruise but be
came intimately acquainted with tn
spats. The shallow water of Piney Poin
affords the best fishing grounds for thes
small fish, They travel in large schools
and if the angler can drop his line in tn
midst of school he will have excellcn
fishing for the day They are sent t.
market, and bunch containing or 1
can be had for 40 cents. Pompinos ar
larger in size, and are classed among TIL
| finest fish. The price is 35 cents q pound
Hog fish of good size are 81 dozen.
Kennebec salmon are plentiful at 2
| cents pound. Salmon trout continu
the same at 10 cents n pound. Sheephea
, | are arriving in large quantities and ar
| - and 20 cents u pound. Halibut hold
! its own at 90 cents, and boiling rock at |
and 90 cents pound. Bunches of whit
perch of good size, % to 10 cents b mel
Goldfish is plentiful at 10 cents n pounC
Fresh mackerel properly broiled, make
a savory dish. The mackcrel arc plent
, full at 10 to 20 cents apiece,
Spanish mackerel is cheap at 20 cents
pound. Black Sea bass at IL cents poun
are much inferior TO fresh water bas
Founders are 10 cents pound. Sturgeo
meat is scarce, and has risen to 10 cents
| pound. Salt water tailors are l2l cents
pound. The quotations of smoked an
salt fish remain unchanged Soft cral
are reduced to 80 cents and 81 dozeI
Hard crabs remain ut % cents a dozel
HOLSTERS are plentiful at 10 cents pound
Swapping turtle, neatly dressed, is l.
cents Il pound. CLAIMS are 10 cents
dozen.
MEATS,
The slight increase in the price of lam
in the wholesale market this week wi
not effect the retail price. Spring lamb
in elegant condition at 10 and 70 cents