The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-06
MARKET SUMMARY.

This is a period of the year when people
are looking around for nice, fresh vegetables,
fruit and things of that kind; and the market
is full of them. Just now strawberries are
In full bloom; and strawberry short-cake Is
on every counter in the city that Is worth
patronizing. Down in New YORK, seVerai
wears ago there was restaurant on Park
row which occupied frontage OF sixty feet
on that thoroughfare, and the enterprising
PROPRIETOR strung out canvas sign on which
was printed the words strawberry short
cake" A newspaper wit took that matter
up and the next day referred to 1t as "a
long sign for a short cake.
The strawberry trade just now, in st. Paul,
Is very active; the prospects are that there
will be light crop. The supply is largely
from Northern Arkansas, south of the Bos-
ton mountains, where the crop has been ex-
ceedipgiy heavy; and receipts have been large
from that section up to within the last Few
days. Heavy rains, however, have inter-
vened and there has been considerable injury
to the growing fruit. The damage is es .imated
at about one-half per cent. The crop north Of
the Boston mountains and extending into
Southwestern Missouri, will probably not be
more than about one-half what it was last
year. This is due principally to the drouth
last fall, during which period the plants died
away to the roots and lost considerable in
vitality. The season, thus far, in that To-
cality has been characterized, also, by ex-
cessive rains, which will no doubt tend to IN
jure the crop materially and cause heavy
losses to the producers.
]. S. Robertson, of Presley & Co., has just
returned to st. Paul from trip through the
South and Southeast, far as Florida. He
has carefully noted the conditions that pre-
vail in all the sections over which he Travelled.
psta hat will ohob 1,-
have good crop of the famous Liberia
peaches; also that the prospects for big crops
were good all over the district through which
he journeyed He pronounced the Michigan
peach crop as fair.
There was good deal of anxiety last year
with regard to the apple CROP but this year.
II blossoms count for anything the yield
is likely to be as large as that of 1896 when
apples were SO plentiful that it did not pay
10 PICK them from the trees and pack them
fer transportation. The Missouri, Arkansas
and Kansas crops are likely to prove failures
ON account of frosts, which, unfortuna:ely
descended upon the buds they were form
ing In the warm days of early April. But
New England and Northern New York are
showing UP well.
The California crop has also been ma.erial-
ly damaged by light frosts. 1t is said that
the apricots are practically all killed in that
section OF the country, and that the paach
crop will suffer damage of so per cent, and
the prune crop about % per cent. Strangely
enough, the delicate pear blossom has esca- ed
damage and there is every indication that the
yield will be normal IL not very much larger
than heretofore. In California the damage
to the pears is regarded as of no CONSEQUENCE,
whatever. The Sacramento river bottoms are
the heaviest sufferers, If there has been any
suffering at all, because the long finger CT
Jack Frost touched the lower levels. The
Baca valleydistrict also received some damage
while the up.ands and mountain districts are
comparatively in excellent form SO far ss
promise of yie.d is concerned at the present
time.
There are excellent prospects for good crops
In Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The ont.re
Pacific slope gives promise of a splendid
yield. The fruit products of the Pacific {, asst
states are gradually coming into notice in the
Eastern markets and the system OF refr,gera-
tor cars bring the yield into easy reach of
the tables in New York, Boston, Philaielphi. !,
Baltimore, Washington and the Ike. This
fact gives to that section of the country an
unusual degree of patronage. St. Paul is q
sort Of central station in the way of trans
portation and good many Iders for Eastern
markets concentrate here at this season of
the year. The commission men at this point
from this time on until the great season
of the autumn causes a gradual drawing to-
gether Of the mouth of the annual cornucopia.
Oranges are coming in in limited quanti-
ties, but their day is over. Their fragrance
and juiciness belong more to the winter
period than to those of summer. The banana
Is taking the place Of the orange and the
pine apple Is attracting the sense of those
who are captivated by tropical favors without
| regard to their digestive organs
The strawberry season is now fully Started
The supplies that are now received as stated
above come largely from Northern Arkansas
Gradually shipments will be received from
more northern latitudes until by June / the
fruit Of Minnesota and territory immediately
contiguous to st. Paul will crown the season
The best are always those that are secured
nearest at home. The real choice berr es
which come to this market are those which
are produced by the vegetable farmers within
radius of ten or fifteen miles of St. Paul
and the price is likely to be we'll sustained In
favor Of local growers, because, strangely
enough, our own latitude during the past year
has been favored with respect to weather
conditions, while the Southwest has received
a good many heavy shots on account of frosts
and freezing rain storms.