Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
RECOVERY IN ARM
PRODUCTS IS NOTED
Cotton, Wool, Eggs, Lambs
and Sweet Potatoes
Slightly Higher.

Some of the farm products show
tendency to come out of the Winter
depression as the Spring season opens,
says the United States Department OF
Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, Market News Service. Cot
ton, wool, eggs, lambs and sweet po-
tatoes made gains or recoverieS near
the first of March. Butter markets are
fairly steady, but cheese sells little
lower. Demand for dairy and poultry
products seems to have been helped by
recent low prices. Northern vegetables
sell near seasons lowest. Grain and
feeds, also cattle and hogs, continue
to meet rather weak market conditions.
Some classes of hay sell higher.
Eastern Potatoes Firm.
Most sales of Eastern potatoes in
terminal markets showed a stronger
tendency the first of the month, but
the Chicago market was weak and low
er. The light arrivals of sweet po-
tatoes from New Jersey sold higher
and receipts from North Carolina held
firm. Onion prices in large consuming
centerS held about steady, except that
New York yellow stock was weaker.
City values of California lettuce were
advancing and Florida stock also sold
higher.
A firm country market was recorded
on New York Baldwin apples, but the
price level for greetings was somewhat
lower. A marked advance occurred in
prices of Florida strawberries at ship
ping points and in city markets.
Butter Trade Active.
Eastern butter markets showed con-
siderable improvement near the first
of fof rlx eff I1,txy
ing activity which resulted in price re-
covery. The volume of butter made
from surplus milk and cream has been
reduced materially during the past few
weeks, until arrivals from such sources
are light.
Trade shows considerable improve
ment in cheese-producing sections.
Buyers operated more freely, evil
IDENTIFY feeling that cheese prices had
reached the low point, at leas. for the
immediate future. Cheese ina kets at
terminal points did not reflect, to a full
degree, the healthier tone and improved
trading conditions o. country points.
Egg Trade Increasing.
Apparently the ;ow retail prices Of
eggs lad marked effect in stimulating
consumption After the middl. of Feb
ruary, the egg market began to take on
a PCllJ4dhSC Va Which, COIlQl-
ton became more emphatic during the
last 10 days of the month. In the East
the production of nearby focks failed
to hold the increase indicated earlier
in the season. Receivers in Philadel-
phia, which market secures large por-
ton of its egg supplies from nearby
sections, report that such receipts are
now only about half those of the CORE
spending period last year. In spite of,
or perhaps ii should be said, because of,
the heavy egg production and low prices
that nave characterized the 1930-3l sea-
son so tar the trade Is beginning to de-
Velop more cheerful feeling about the
prospects for the rest of the year.
Dressed poultry markets, especially
took on a decidedly firmer tone, near
the FIRST of March and a general i'm
proVement in prices would not be at all
Surprising to many dealers.
Cattle and Hogs.
Cattle and hog values near the first of
March ad fallen to new low levels for
recens months, but made some recovery
from the bottom. Net changes were
mostly not extreme. Sheep ard lamb
prices hilctuated but mildly, and closed
fuLly as high as a week earlier. Re-
ceipts for the last week Of February as
reflected by unloads at IL important
primary markets show ed decreases from
tne week previous of approximately 49,
OUO cattle, $4,000 hogs. and 5000 sheep
Values on Gas and finer wcoIs held
steady tc firm in Eastern markets, while
prices en- grades below Gas were some
what irregular, bat displayed a stead
Ter tendency. Reports of STRENGTHENING
foreign markets assisted materially in
holding values on fairly even keel.
Corn Slightly Lower.
Domestic wheat markets weakened
near the first of March, particularly for
new crop deliveries, influenced by gem
orally favorable prospects for the new
winter wheat crop and continued large
marketings of old crop grain. Corn and
other feed grains were all slightly lower.
rejecting the reduced demand as a re-
suit OF the unusually mild weather, low
prices OF 1--we stock, dairy and poultry
prooucts and lack Of funds in important
consuming areas. Rye was lower with
wheat, but fax generally steady, with
offerings light
The entire Winter to date has been
unusually favorable for live stock and
little extra feeding was necessary. Wheat
bran led the downward price trend of
late February. On the average, bran
was quoted about 81 per ton lower. Pros
pective better inquiry for middlings for
spring pig IeeQlng was nOlQlng nedYy
feeds relatively firmer than bran.
Eastern markets were weakened not
only by the dull inquiry, but also by
pressure from Central-Western and
Northwestern flour mills. Linseed meal
prices declined on the average of about
so cents per ton Cottonseed meal
prices were Independently strong as
compared with other feeds. Prices adj
vanced little in most Northern mar
kets. Demand for cottonseed meal by
fertilizing interests has not equalled the
anticipation of fertilizer manufacturers.
The general situation for gluten feed
and meal was weak in Eastern mar
ketS. with offerings heavy Both gluten
feed and meal declined 81 at Chicago
Hominy feed prices continued their
downward trend with slow demand and
lower corn prices.
The New York hay market was barely
steady on small sized bales. but large
bales of high-grade hay were scarce and
in good demand at steady to slightly
higher prices. A good inquiry was re-
ported at Chicago for all grades of
timothy, clover or other mixtures, but
grass hay remained slow sale. Alfalfa
markets were steady to somewhat lower,
with moderate to light offerings in
slow demand. Top grade alfalfa found
ready outlet at Chicago in early
Marrh