Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-01
IN THE LOCAL MARKETS
FLORIDA wATERMELoNs AT
TRACING ATTENTION.
Decided Improvement in Condition Of
Vegetable Crop - Fish, Crabs,
Chickens, Butter and Eggs.

Florida watermelons are attracting at
tention OF buyers In the local markets. but
the demand for them Is not great on ac-
count of the prices dealers are asking. The
melons are OF good size and the quality
the dealers say, Is as fine as 1t possibly
could be.
There are many persons who imagine
the melons are not good because they come
such long distance dealer remarked
but that does not affect their quality in
the slightest degree. The southern climate
is more suitable for the melons than is the
climate Of sections farther north and the
fruit natures In much shorter time. Then
after the melons are taken from the vines
they are put aboard fast freights and hur-
ried over the road. This hauling is very
little, If any. more than long hauls In coun-
try wagons, so far as affecting the quality
OF the fruit Is concerned
The largest of the melons are selling at
81 each. and smaller ones as cheap as
70 cents. Cantaloupes are becoming more
plentiful, but the prices are about the same
as they were last week-from 10 to 20 cents
each. There are plenty of cherries in mar
ket from this section as we'll as from
distance. the former selling at from 10 to
20 cents basket, and the California fruit
at 20 cents a pound. Blackberries are
quoted at from IS to 20 cents. and choicest
strawberries are commanding Is cents a
however. that are to be had as cheap as 10
cents There are but few apples in market
Oranges are plentiful, but not cheap, and
pineapples are plentiful and cheap. The
latter are selling at from 10 to 20 cents.
Condition Of Vegetable Crop.
Recent rains caused a decided improve
ment in the condition of the vegetable crop
and Increased supplies of some of the vege-
tables are noticeable. Peas have been more
plentiful since the rain and the pods are
much better filed than they were during
the dry weather. While the supply of peas
grown about this section has greatly In
creased dealers are still receiving shipments
from Norfolk. The prices charged range
from 80 to 60 cents a peck. String beans
are still scarce and are selling at so cents
Tomatoes continue to come In big lots and
the prices charged are about the same as
last week, two pounds for a quarter being
the price for the general run of stock
Lettuce is plentiful and cheap, spring on
ions and radishes are being received In
quantities large enough to supply the de-
mand and asparagus and cucumbers are
plentiful and find ready sale at moderate
prices.
Practically no fish is being received from
the Potomac river fishermen, dealers de-
pending upon the seines in the Susquehanna
for shad and herring. the season for which
will close the 10th of this month. Roe shad
were bringing Go cents today. White perch
are in demand, but dealers are not getting
many eff them. A few small fish are COM
ing from the Potomac, but large perch are
scarce. Fifteen cents pound is the price
asked for them. Prices of other fish are
about the as they were last week.
Sturgeon is more plentiful, but the supply
Is by no means greater than the demand.
All the cold storage stock has been dis
posed of and only the fresh-caught fish are
now being sold. Dealers find 1t easy
matter to dispose of sturgeon at 10 cents
a pound.
Crabs, Chickens and Eggs.
Hard and soft crabs are in demand, and
they are more plentiful than they were
earlier In the season Soft crabs are being
received from the shippers at Crisffeld. Ok
ford and numerous points on the Chesa-
peake bay The soft crabs are large and
fat and they find ready sale at from 80 to
90 cents a dozen. Crab meat and crab
fake are also in demand for salads and
other purposes, the meat selling at 30 and
the flake at 20 cents quart. Frogs are
selling at from co to 10 cents pound
The increased demand for spring chick
ems is being met with increased receipts.
From the Maryland and Virginia farmers
dealers are receiving large shipments of
chickens and some are also being received
from Tennessee and North Carolina. Re-
tailers find no trouble in getting rid of the
good stock at from % to 30 cents a pound.
The demand for older fowls is not great at
this season, and shippers are not sending
many of them here. Squads are taking the
place of domestic game during the closed
season. and they are in great demand at
SO cents each.
There has been practically no change in
the butter and egg market since last week.
the retail prices being about the same.
Eggs are selling at from 20 to 25 cents a
dozen and creamery butter is quoted at 80
cents.