Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-28
PRODUCE MARKETS
DEVELOP STRENGTH
Uptrend Noticeable in Grain
and Cotton Prices--Pota-
toes Higher.

during the second half OF the month.
saws the United States Department OF
Agriculture, Bureau Of Agricultural
Economics, Market News Service. The
butter market was a striking exception,
making one OF the sharpest declines OF
the season. and the weakness was
shared to some extent by live stock,
meats, eggs and poultry. But the up
ward trend Of the grain and cotton
markets, based ON more favorable news
of supply and demand. lent strong
support 10 the general situation. Po-
tatoes and onions advanced further in
some markets on lighter supplies.
Field beans have recovered somewhat
from lowest of the month. Sweet po-
tatoes and cabbage show further de-
clines, and apples continue irregular
and unsettled.
Eastern Potatoes Higher.
Eastern and North Central potatoes
advanced materially the third week Of
October. Maine Green Mountains
brought so TO IS cents sacked per 100
pounds at shipping points, and the
same variety on Long Island IS to 90
cents. Western New York quoted
round whites at 65 to rs cents.
Barreled sweet potatoes declined fur
ther on the Eastern Shore Of Virginia
TO a range of 80-85 cents with bushel
baskets at 35-40 cents. Slight declines
were recorded on Maryland and Della
ware stock. Onion prices moved up all
along the line. Cabbage declined In
Western New York to $75O-e8.50 per
ton, bulk. and terminal markets also
were lower. Celery was slightly weaker
at Western New York shipping points,
but slightly higher In city markets.
Apple markets registered practically
no change. Much fruit was going into
storage at shipping points, awaiting q
later market. Kieffer pears were slight
" higher in Western New York.
Butter Market weak.
The butter markets developed pro-
nounced weakness in late October, and
top scores declined more than cents.
This was the sharpest weekly decline
since December, 1890. and the first
marked decline since prices started TO
advance in June. A nervous undertone
has been evidenced for several weeks,
due to arrival Of Canadian butter, some
increases in production and uncertainty
rs to consumption.
Cheese markets, in distributing CEN
ters, ruled barely steady to easy during
the third week of October, and such
price changes as did occur were small.
Demand was only fair, the large styles
receiving the bulk Of attention. Daisies
continued in plentiful supply, and some
price shading on this style was not
uncommon.
Most Live Stock Lower.
Choice cattle sold higher, other grades
lower at Chicago in late October. The
hog market absorbed an increase Of
around $4,000 head in receipts at IL
market centers the third week of the
month, without material change in price
levels. A further advance in the lard
market was a strengthening feature in
the trade on heavy butchers and pack
ing sows, which closed slightly higher.
The market on fat lambs dipped sharp
ly, dropping back to the seasons low
point after having touched the highest
levels of the season during the week
ket centers decreased about $1,000, COM
pared with the week previous. but con-
tinued Seasonally large, and recent
slaughter has apparently been too lib
eral to permit of q retention of recent
peak prices on the dressed product.
Demand for wool Is improving, and
opportunities to sell were more numer-
Gus in late October than at any time
since early In September. Anticipation
of q renewal OF activity In the goods
market presumably stimulated consid-
cradle interest in testing values on the
wool market Sentiment showed q
marked improvement as result Of in
creased activity Of buyers and encour-
aging reports that came from foreign
wool markets.
NIiH Feeds Advance.
Hard Winter wheat feeds showed rela-
lively greater strength than soft Winter
wheat feeds with advances of from SO
cents to 81 per ton at Central Western
and Southern markets after the middle
of the month. Cottonseed meal con-
tiEued It's sharp upward trend begun
early in october. Advances of SITS to
50 were reported at important South
ern distributing markets. Feeders over
q wide territory north and northwest
have been active buyers. Export in
CURRY continued good.
Timothy Hay Lower.
Timothy hay markets remained very
quiet with light offerings generally In
only fair demand at prices ranging from
steady to slightly lower. Arrivals at
New York and Boston were slightly in
excess of the continued slow demand
and prices declined slightly. Trading
remained OF very small volume at Pitts
burgh and all principal Southern mar,
ketS.
Wheat Market Higher.
Domestic wheat markets have ad-
vanced 3 to 5 cents per busnel since the
middle of october, influenced by q
more active export inquiry for North
American wheat and lack of SUFFICIENT
moisture for seeding and termination
of Winter wheat in some areas in the
Southwest. The higher prices brought
out larger country offerings but the
increased current receipts were readily
taken by mills and industrial buyers.
Feed grain markets were strengthened
by the advance in wheat but price gains
were not large Rye and fax advanced
with higher wheat prices. but were also
influenced by the improved demand for
this seasons short supplies.
Egg Markets Weaken.
An additional decline of to cents
on some grades of eggs occurred in late
October. Perhaps the most disturbing
factor in the egg situation is the slack
demand and the failure of eggs to move
into consumption during the past few
months as rapidly as they did year
ago. this in spite of the somewhat lower
prices. Consumption during the first
three weeks of October continued the
unfavorable trend Of August and Sep
TENDER, and with receipts OF fresh eggs
for the period slightly above correspond
ing receipts OF last year. the additional
reductions in total stocks made in early
October was. judged by reports from
leading storage centerS, likewise less
than q year ago.
Heavy roasting chickens. which were
particularly plentiful. declined TO
cents In October, without. however,
creating much additional demand and
any recovery in the market. Consider
able quantities were sent TO storage by
receivers. so as not to disturb the mar
ket further BroilsrS were irregular in
quality and prices. with their season
practically over. Stocks Of dressed
poultry in cold storage showed heavy in
creases in the October report.