Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-10
EASTERT|DE MARKET
Innumerable Things Pre-
sented to Buyers.
READY FOR TOMORROW
SOME FLOWERS ARE sCARCER
THAN LAST YEAR.
Greens, Vegetables and Edibles of All
Kinds Will Greet the
Festive Eye.
READY FOR TOMORROW

The display of good things at the Center
market tomorrow morning will be well
worth seeing. This afternoon. after the
regular hours for business dealers started
upon the work of getting their stands in
readiness for the Easter trade. The i'm
mense amount of flowers and eatables on
exhibition will be calculated to give the
average buyer the impression that there is
a scarcity of nothing.
Such is not the case. however, for there
will be scarcity of some flowers, meat
prices will be higher than for some weeks
and poultry will bring surprisingly high
prices Fruits and vegetables and fish are
the necessaries of life that will be within
the reach of the average buyer.
Along the aisles occupied by the florists
flowers were banked almost as high as the
roof this afternoon. Dealers were busy
taking orders, while their employees We're
hard at work arranging the potted plants
and cut flowers.
Roses will be plentiful tomorrow and the
prices will probably be reasonable. The
early spring has forced such flowers as by
acinths. tulips and jonquils These flowers
are always in demand for the Easter sea-
son. but this year they are not so plentiful
as usual.
Warm Weather Forces Some Blooms.
Azalias are also largely depended upon
at this season of the year, but they. too.
were forced by the warm weather of March
until they have become scarce. According
to the statement of one florist there is
practically smilax on the market and
very little asparagus. Greens. as they are
called. are in demand for church decora
tons, but this year most of the churches
will have to green's from other sections
or do without them.
An unusually large demand for Easter
lilies has made this flower scarce. Hun
dredS of these plants have been shipped to
other cities. many of them having been
sent to Florida for use in the big hotels
and churches. The supply is not equal to
the demand.
Carnations flower that is always a IA
vOrite with Washingtonians, are plentiful,
but the prices are stiff. Other flowers will
be found plentiful. and it is predicted that
some of the dealers will have stock on hand
when the hour for closing the market ar
riVeS.
Fruits and Vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables, many from Florida
and the Carolinas. will be an attractive fea-
ture of the Easter market. 1t has not been
many years since the majority of this stock
from a distance was handled by only two
or three dealers. but now they are to be
found in stores and upon huckster wagons
as well as in the markets.
To many country visitors who go through
the market at this season the sight of
strawberries. cucumbers. tomatoes and
such produce is surprising. Strawberries
are more plentiful than they We're last
week and prices have taken drop They
are to be had as low 10 cents. Thirty
cents is asked for the choicest stock Nor
folk grass is to be had at from 30 to 40
cents bunch. while the Florida asparagus
nay be obtained at even lower prices.
Tomatoes have not been so plentiful this
week, The scarcity is due to the heavy
shipments north. From u to 20 cents a
pound Is charged for them. Hot house Gu
cumbers are 20 cents each and mushrooms
are 80 cents pound. New potatoes are
more plentiful and cheaper prices prevail.
California celery is about played out and
Florida stock is bringing from 80 cents to
$1.25 a dozen punches.
There are numerous other fruits and veg
etables to be had and prices are considered
low. Apples are more plentiful than they
nave been at this season for q number of
Years and prices are correspondingly low.
1hey are selling by the barrel at from 81 so
to 81: On the country line tomorrow there
will be an abundance of such vegetables as
TO be had from the surrounding country
ana wild flowers will also be plentiful.
Planked Shad
Planked shad will form part of the menu
at many Easter dinners, but they must not
he planked in the way colored helper in
the Center market told of a few DAYS ago
A man who evidently knew but little about
the preparation of foods purchased a shad
and asked the helper how to plank it.
Just put it on plank and cook it." the
colored man told him.
Can L get plank here?' he asked
Having been told that he could get one
Tor htteen cents, he placed an order with
the man An ordinary piece of pine board
taken from a box was sold. He put the
board over the fire, and few days later he
returned and complained that the board
nad burned through and ruined his fish.
Inc proper Kind of board is to be had at
some Of the local stores
Shad will be higher than last week. The
seines have not yet recovered from the Sc
we're storm, and the catch has been small
Seventy-hve cents will buy big fat roe
shad tomorrow thirty-five cents will
enable the purchaser to carry home a
buck. Severe disappointment was caused
this morning by the scarcity Of soft crabs.
They. too, were affected by the storm and
what few there We're in market sold read
lily at 81 a dozen.
Crab meat, fresh from the eastern shore.
Is Seilhs at 80 cents quart or 81 a gal
lon. Potomac rock and perch are selling
at IL cents pound the price asked for
Spanish mackerel Red snappers are plen-
tiful. and find ready sale at 12h cents
Oysters and clans hold their own. while
shrimp sell at 30 cents a quart. Herring
are about the cheapest fish on the market
selling at 80 cents hundred
Increase in Meat Prices.
There has been an increase of about 9
cents in the beef market and the pork
market was already decidedly stiff Sheep
meat has also advanced. and dealers are
paying almost as much for their supplies
today as the retail price week ago.
Poultry will also be scarce and high.
There has been an alarming scarcity of
poultry TINS spring, and dealers find it no
easy matter TO get supplies large enough
Tor their trade. 1t is said by dealers that
she stock on hand today will hardly supply
tomorrow's demand
Butter Is decidedly firm and choice goods
are scarce Eggs are n trifie higher than
they Were few days ago Eighteen cents
n dozen is the retail price today. II is
possible that this afternoons receipts NAV
ton in the price.