Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-21

appreciate extent this month and there
is no prospect that lower prices will pre-
vail in the near future. Butchers are OF
fering small pigs weighing from eight TO
twenty pounds each for the holiday sea-
son. the prices ranging from 81 to "a. There
are many persons 1t Is stated, who pre-
fer roasted shoat to a turkey for Christ
mas dinner and the demand has greatly
increased during recent years. In the meat
market. dealers say, beef is about the only
thing that is holding it's own so far as
prices are concerned Lamb. veal and
pork products are cheaper and with de-
creased prices prevailing 1t is likely that
there will be corresponding increase In
the demand for the meats. Rabbits are
more plentiful than they were earlier in
the season. the good ones bringing 80 and
35 cents each and inferior stock selling
for % cents.
Eggs and Butter.
At this season of the year the house
keeper has to consider the problem of doing
with as few eggs and as little butter as
possible. on account of the prices. Cream
cry butter Is scarce and high. 40 cents a
pound being charged for it by most of the
Dealers while butter for cooking purposes
finds ready sale at 80 cents Country but
ter that is sold from the wagons along the
market line is bringing 80 cents a pound
Several times during the past month the
wholesale dealers were notified of ADVANCES
in prices; the last advance being this week.
the increase being only one-half cent on
the pound. The prevailing price for fresh
eggs is 35 cents. but consumers are not al
ways certain they are getting the fresh
stock Many cold storage eggs are being
put upon the market for the Christmas
trade and some dealers are selling them
as such, but, it is stated, others offer them
as fresh country stock. 1t is thought that
the weather conditions will guide the egg
market from now until spring, when the
eggs are certain to be much cheaper. Deal
ers do not believe that the present high
price will continue unless siege of biz
card weather is experienced.
Fruits and Vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables will also be in
great demand during the holidays, many
persons indulging in the more expensive
varieties at this time of the year merely as
a matter of luxury. Not only are the deal
ers in the markets and stores better pre-
pared to supply their patrons at this sea-
son than at others, but the push-cart mer-
chants have also made extra preparations
to reap a harvest. They have placed their
carts along the curbing not far from the
market, and the carts remain there day and
night their owners realizing that II they
are removed at night 1t would mean live
ly scramble in the morning for the more
advantageous positions Fruits and vege-
tables from Florida and California are dis
played upon the market benches to the best
advantage, the Florida oranges being more
in evidence than any other fruit. There is
a large supply of oranges on hand, and they
are selling at prices ranging from ~ TO ~
cents dozen. Shattucks or grape fruit Is
quoted at from 10 to Is cents. Perhaps the
greatest delicacy to be had in the fruit line
is the Florida strawberry. The berries are
in splendid condition, and possess the nat
ural flavor of the fruit that Is taken from
the vine ripe enough to use. There are
plenty of apples in market for the Christ
mas trade, but many of them are inferior
varieties and are not cheap at any price.
The best of them are selling at 70 cents
peck but there are plenty of good ones to
be had for 80 cents Tokay and Malaga
grapes are selling at 20 cents pound, but
it is rather late in the season for the former
variety, and they are not In first-class con-
dition.
In the vegetable line Florida and Califor-
mia tomatoes seem to lead the market. Inc
Florida vegetable, dealers say, is superior
to those from the Pacific coast, possessing
the flavor of the fresh tomato and also
being of brighter red color The same
price is charged for both. % cents pound
for the best stock and 20 cents for the in
ferior vegetables.
Celery and Cranberries
Celery and cranberries are in great de-
mand at this season, and both are plentl-
full and cheap, the former selling at from
to Is cents stalk and the cranberries two
quarts for % cents, or less than one-half
Mushrooms are not plentiful at 81 a pound.
There are string beans. new peas and new
beets from Florida, and the prices charged
for them are about the same as usually
prevail at this season of the year. Let
tuce, radishes and spring onions are plenti-
full and reasonable
Dealers in marine products are experience
ing no trouble in making their benches at
tractive for the holidays. They are getting
plenty of fresh-caught stock and not de-
pendent upon cold storage fish, although
some frozen fish are being sold. Bass, perch
and rock that are caught in the Potomac
river are the fish that are in greatest de-
mand. Rock are scarce and high, the boil
ing fish bringing as much as 30 cents a
pound, perch are quoted at from 10 to 20
cents and bass are selling at 20 cents a
pound. Red snappers are arriving in the
local market and are in demand at Is cents
a p2und HOLSTERS are in demand at 80
cents pound, but dealers are unable to
get enough Of item to supply the demand.
Christmas falling upon Tuesday, as it does
this year, will give market dealers ample
time to supply the trade, the market
being kept open all day and evening Sat