The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-03-24
IN HUB MARKETS.
Butter Market Firmer, but
Prices Not Advanced.

Fair Demann, and Receipts Are Being
Cleaned Up-DisappointInent of the
Dealers In Cheese-western Hen
Fruit" Even with the Eastern Product
as to Price.
Boston, March 23.-There is some talk
Of slight advance in the butter market,
but the majority OF the dealers are Of the
opinion that trade Is not active enough
to warrant any rise. They think that
prices Will steadily rise from this for
ward, and that If any advance were
forced it could not be maintained for
more than d week OF two, and might
tend to check consumption. or course,
If supplies should run short as some pre-
dict they VIII before this month Is out,
prices viii ind their natural level. Last
year at this time there Was an advance
OF four cents in the west, but this market
dld not respond more than cent OF two,
and in Two weeks the whole advance was
lost and prices continued to decline.
Sudden changes such as these have a
bad effect, and result in no good 10 any
body
Receivers have been selling Vermont
and New Hampshire fresh lots at q
cents in tubs and at " cents in boxes.
Last week it was difficult to get over q
cents for boxes and a few were left
over at that. This week the boxes are
not 80 much in excess but there is
plenty of them and it is not easy to
get more that half a cent difference.
Sales from cold storage have been
Al "a 40 ct f.,tts a
but the most desirable lots are now
all out OF the way, or held by dealers
VINO want them for their small trade.
ana most OF what remains will have to
be offered at lower rates The stock is
now so small that it cannot have a
material effect on the market. and deal
ers Will have to work solely on fresh
arrivals. From all accounts the make
is not increasing much in the west. and
the northern creameries are not turn
ing out any more than last year at this
time.
the leading tobbers report a fair
trade, and they do not seem disposed
to make any change in prices. They
may have to pay a little more than last
week for the favored creameries but
this will not probably make any differ
ence to their customers, for this week at
least. Sales run along at % to "A cen
outside for fine makes in boxes OF
course, the poorer qualities take a lower
range.
The cheese situation is without i'm
proNement. There is little or no de-
mand for large lots, and transactions
are connned to small parcels for i'm
mediate use. Dealers are very mn, n
disappointed at the course of the market
TINS year, and all VII had stock on hand
must be losing money. The best fan
rules at to cents in lots as wanted.
and common to good stock at So to
cents.
The bulk of the egg business has been
at IL cents and it is a question if this
price can be shaded ON first class stock
suitable for storing. Eastern sold for
IL to liz cents, but in the regular way
it is harder to get more for eastern than
for western. Receipts for the week
were 22,l3 cases, against 20. $40 cases the
previous week and 29,05l cases for the
corresponding week last year. About
200 cases are now in cold storage. Duck
eggs are selling in a jobbing way at
"a to 70 cents per dozen.
HV ptoH HldFkel mas been SLOW and
marrow pea cannot be placed in large
quantities at over Sl10 per bushel.
Choice mediums are light in supply and
not offered under s115. Other kinds
quiet and steady.
In the potato market the only new
feature to note is the scarcity of early
rose for seed. These command $l.1o
to $l.l5 per bushel. Eastern hebrons
are selling at rs to rs cents, and west
ern Green mountains at so to SO cents.
New maple sugar is arriving more
freely, and it is hard to sell in a whole
sale way at over IL cents per pound
New syrup is in fair demand at 60
to 70 cents per gallon. Old sugar and
syrup not wanted.
The grass seed trade is fairly active
on the basis of the following prices:
Red clover, 6 to cents per pound white
clover, 10 to 13 cents; timothy, $3.50 To
$3.50 per bushel. and red top. $3.50 to
81 per sack, and IL to IL cents per pound
Tallow is quiet. with the market firm
Bulk 4@4lsc; tallow oil. 41@43c
| New York, March 23-Talow quiet
City, 11-16' country, $685., as to
quality.