Evening star., 1931-12-30
PRODUCE MARKETS
CONTINUE STEADY
Recent Small Price FIuCtua-
tions Are Held EnCour-
aging Sign.

Trade In all lines of farm products
showed the quiet conditions that usu-
ally prevail near the first of the year,
says the United States Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Eco
nomics, Market News Service. Prices
shared the more steady trend of the
general commodity market The COM
paratively small price changes of the
past few months have been considered
one OF the most encouraging features of
the situation. Even the live stock mar
ket, which has been the weakest feature
lately, showed some tendency toward
recovery. Poultry sold lower than dur
ing the Thanksgiving period. Egg mar
ketS lost little of the recent recovery.
Butter prices hold we'll on best grades.
Potato and onion markets were irregu-
lar, but averaged about steady.
Eastern Potatoes Gain.
A slight strengthening of potato
prices occurred in Maine and In some
Western producins sections the last
week of December Northern Maine
quoted range of 43 to As cents per 100
pounds ON Green Mountains, but the
Western New York country market
weakened slightly to range of 65 to 81
cents. Sales for future delivery showed
a declining tendency at Chicago.
Sweet potatoes made some price gains
during Christmas holiday period. Near
ly all receipts were selling at slightly
higher levels except that Virginia stock
now in light supply held about steady
in the Feast.
Storage holdings Of celery in Western
New York are being reduced rapidly but
some stock may never be shipped be-
cause of inferior quality or condition.
City markets quoted celery slightly
lower. Lettuce markets were in stronger
position. Marketing OF the Far Western
crop has been delayed by cool weather.
City values of Western and Eastern let
tuce advanced.
Cabbage sold little higher at West
ern New York shipping points, and
prices were firm in city markets. There
was little change in Western cabbage.
and Southern cabbage sells little lower
week by week.
Onion markets are irregular, tending
slightly lower in western New YORK,
but remaining steady and firm on most
lines in city markets. Arrivals OF Span
ish onions slightly unsettled the posi-
ton.
Apple markets were nearly unchanged
in late December, although some var1e-
ties sold little lower in Western New
York producing sections. A range OF 80
cents to 81 per bushel cover sales OF
most standard varieties from Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Vir-
ginia. as quoted in the large markets,
and a similar range applies to most
Eastern fruit, except Mcintosh, Green
ing, Delicious and such special priced
varieties.
Butter Market Unsettled.
The butter markets in late December
showed a slight improvement over pre-
vious weeks, owing mainly to compara-
tive scarcity of the fine grades rather
than because of any marked improve
ment in the demand. Dealers found
their fancy marks clearing quite readily.
The Chicago market was weaker than
most others, especially on centralized
car lots. The rate of movement from
storage during the past few weeks has
been somewhat lighter than that for the
corresponding weeks a year ago. Pro-
duction seems to be considerably larger
than for the corresponding time last
season. Mild temperatures in produce
ing territory have helped keep the milk
flow fairly constant and prices OF feed
have been low enough to encourage
LIlSA 1IDEldl AoC Nl4CASFNl tAAS NNAs
markets have been holding well.
Poultry Supply Ample.
The poultry markets were literally
supplied with fowl and chickens
through December. Demand was rather
weak and prices tended to still lower
levels losing about cents on dressed
fowl and to cents on chickens The
general level was to cents below
that of a year ago. Apparently the
demand was about 10 per cent less
than for the same period last year. The
lower price level at the end of the year
included the turkey market, and the
trade in this line was reported gener-
ally Improbable to most wholesalers.
Considerable quantities Of dressed poul-
try was held over in storage and will
remain as a market handicap. The in
crease in storage stocks in four repre-
sentative markets during the first three
weeks of December was about one-third
greater than during the corresponding
period the year before.
Egg Markets Weaker.
There was weak tone in the egg
market in late December, owing mainly,
il seemed, to lack of demand, both for
retail trade and for future require
ments. Mild weather in many parts Of
the country also weakened the position,
actual receipts we're not espe-
cially heavy. Cold storage eggs showed
greater price declines than fresh stocks.
Live Stock Shipments Reduced.
Arrivals of live stock in Midwestern
markets were sharply reduced Christ
mas week. Demand also was lighter,
but prices of cattle, hogs and lambs
all reached higher levels on some
grades. Part of the gain in the cattle
market was lost after reaching top
of $11.75 at Chicago but light steers
and long yearlings closed at steady
prices. Stockers and feeders were
scarce and firm, but country demand
continued slow.
Sustained strength in the Chicago
hog market sent prices up rs to IS
cents during the last week of Decen-
Der and best lots reached S4.65 per
100 pounds at Chicago. The market on
fat lambs also was 25 to so cents
higher and active at the advance. Nu-
merous loads of we'll finished native
and fed Western lambs sold at Sc to
$685., the latter price being the top.
The bulk of the better grades Of lambs
brought $3.50 or more. Shippers COM
peted strongly for the available sup
feeder lambs.
The wool market showed the usual
year-end quietness and there were not
many large lots sold Occasional in
quiries we're made by buyers who
took no wool or only sufficient
quantities to fill immediate require
ments. Sellers maintained a fairly
firm attitude on values. Some small
lots were cleaned up at slight conces-
sions. but no reductions were noted on
sizable offerings.
Wheat Market Unsettled.
Near the end of the year wheat
prices were well above the low point
of the season and price of Spring
wheat compared fairly we'll with values
q year ago, but world stocks were stin
large. Unsettled business
conditions, lack of funds, high tariffs
and mill restrictions in foreign mar