The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-06-09
REVIEW OF TIE BERRY AND
VEGETABLE MARKETS BYA
NEW YORK MERCHANT.

- - - AsA<A< IN n , n
NEW YORK MERCHANT.
enormous Quantities OF Vegetables
Thrown upon the New York
Market by a Change OF
Railroad Guage.
NEW YoRK, June 9, 1856.
Editor n. Y. Market Journal:
SlR-ln response to inquiries from you
regarding the produce trade and the
principal features Of the pass weeks bus
iness. would say that this has been the
great week in southern berries which we
have been looking for, but which has
been kept of from the effects Of the
cool weather, yet the past few days has
brought in great influx Of berries of
tine quality from Maryland, Delaware
and southern Jersey. also have had the
closing up OF the Norfolk season. But
notwithstanding the heavy receipts,
which run up to a million and half
III quarts in one day, we have been able
TO keep them moving freely and realized
fair prices. Prices ranging now on
choice berries from cts. to 10 cts. with
fancy selling up to 10 cts. quart. Ii is
the most positive evidence OF what this
market can use in the way Of fruits and
vegetables without any serious results to
the shipper. when We consider their per.
ishable nature.
The results of the season have thus far
agreeably disappointed the wholesale
dealers Of produce, a. We have beeu an.
ticipating . dull market, with extremely
bw prices during times Of all gluts. Such
arr not the facts. and nOkw Outstanding
We have an exceptionally favorable
prospect for the coming fruit crops Of
New York state, yet Il encourages Us to
look forward to a satisfactory market
and at very fair prices. The much re-
ported dullness Of business prevailing
throughout the country generally seems
to me to have been exaggerated, as Ger.
I .inly out Of town buyers have never Ia.
ken goods more freely and seem willing
to pay fair values for them.
We are pleased to zee the market hold
up 20 well on early vegetables which
have been arriving In such large quaint.
ties from the various trucking sections
throughout the south, from Florida and
all coast states above. For instance,
peas. aud beans have been coming from
the large trucking sections Of Savsnnah,
Charleston. Newburn and Norfolk, also
Virginia and Maryland, and yet from
all these points there was quite famine
In both Of these vegetables In the early
part OF the week, psas selling up in .
Wholesale way at g. 10 per Dbl. and beans
at the rate Of 500,
A change IL now being made generally
throughout the southern roads, from the
broad TO the narrow guage, 10 that we
may In the future have a through rail
connection without any transfer OF
freights. This was to take effect June
1st., and that day oil goods consigned to
Chattanooga, Atlanta, Washington, Bal.
timose, Philadelphia, Newark and Bos.
ton over the southern roads, which con-
meet with the Florida Railway and Nav.
igation company ct Callahan, were n.
fused except on condition that they
should be sent directly to this market
Il WAS quite fortunate for the Florida
shippers that they had 90 good market
"a New York 10 take care Of their pro.
duce In an emergency.
Az II had to I've accounted for In one
lot the general traffic manager placed the
whole amount in my hands for disposal.
Ny customers naturally thought there
would be some good bargains, and Il
caused a lively competition; therefore
was able to make very satisfactory die.
posal Of it. It naturally had depress.
ing effect on the prices OF cucumbers, m
the receipts were largely In excess Of
previous steamers, Savannah sending
them forward quite freely, and we must
look for lower prices from this time. The
prices are favorable, however, on to.
mat0es, also good demand for potatoes
~ Savannah about done and North Car.
olinas cropis not yet sufficiently matured
for market.
Upto the present time the s)uthern
crop has been profitable one to III ],
growers with few exceptions. The early
planting in Florida Of vegetables was
extensive, and cost the trucker 81 good
deal to make II, many Loot their whole
crops, yet those who had good crops Of
cucumbers and tomatoes since are real.
izing good prices and will make up their !
losses on them. Florida and Georgia will
soon be through their shipments for tho
season.
As regards vegetables, but one Of the
principal products OF northern Florida
and southern Georgia Is yet to arrive.
namely, watermel0ns, which are grown |
there In immense quantities and are our
principal sources Of supply for the north
ern, middle and western states. Solid
train loads Of melons are shipped from
Leon, jefferson and Madison counties in |
Florida, and Thomas, Brooks and
Lowndes counties In Georgia. They |
produce the finest melons that are grown |
any where, and usually realize from go !
10 $75 per 100 for first shipments. The |
peach crop throughout Georgia and III,
Carolinas has developed the past year in
70 valuable source OF revenue. Il Is
brought here in foe condition, either
by express or in refrigerators. and sold
at reasonable prices, yet remunerative to
the grower.
Taking into consideration the vast in.
crease In the production OF early vegeta-
bles and fruits, as compared with the de- |
cline in prices OF the staple products,
such as eggs, butter, poultry, dried
fruits, etc. I think the present prices
average in favor Of the former crops. and
| see no sufficient reason to discourage
people from continuing In the business,
or TO further extend their present acre |