Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-15
PRODUCE MARKETS
CONTINUE UNEVEN
Grain Prices Move Against
Trend-Potatoes and
Cabbage Weak.

ket course the first 10 days Of October,
but there we're important price gains,
resulting chiefly perhaps from the i'm
provement of the sentiment in business
and financial centers, says the United
States Department of Agriculture. Bu-
reau Of Agricultural Economics, Market
News Service. Cotton advanced despite
an increased production estimate.
Grain showed an upward tendency on
appearance of somewhat more favor
able news regarding world production
and supplies. Further declines in price
OF feeds were regarded as an Offset to
the weak markets on hogs, sheep, calves
and some grades Of cattle. Wool mar
kets were extremely dull and unsettled.
Seasonal advances continued on eggs
and butter, but most lines of dressed
poultry tended lower, owing to usual
rapid increase in supplies at this season.
Cheese sold lower in the country mar
ket, but holds nearly unchanged in con-
Stunning centers. Potatoes and most
other vegetables except onions declined.
Apple markets were irregular, with no
pronounced general trend Of prices.
Weak Potato Market.
Potato markets were generally weaker,
and prices declined further except for
a slight Strengthening of the Chicago
carlot market on Northern round white
varieties. Cabbage markets were dull
and weak. Domestic type was returning
only So to 81 per ton bulk in Western
New York. Celery in two-thirds crates
weakened slightly in Western New York
to $1.85a$1.90. The Eastern Shore Of
Virginia sweet potato market was in
poor condition with recent sales of bar
rels at 80 cents to 81 and bushel bas-
kets at 40 to As cents. Barreled stock
held about steady in city markets, but
basket pack declined.
Onion prices were somewhat irregu-
lar. but more advances than declines
were reported. The country grape mar
ket in Michigan and Central New York
advanced slightly, with Chautauqua-
Erie district about steady. The Poto-
mac Valley country market for apples
was lower. Grimes brought only S1.75
per barrel and Yorks 50. Bushel tubs
OF several varieties ranged IS cents to
81. Pears from Eastern shipping areas
were mostly lower. SeckelS brought
Sl50 per bushel at Western New York
points. All lettuce was selling lower in
consuming centers.
Butter Trade Cautious.
Underlying caution appears in the
october butter market situation and q
general disposition to test the market
out. Factors in conservatism were I'M
satisfactory industrial conditions, pos
sibilities of imports, slight increase in
production in some sections and the lack
Of much improvement in market quality.
Markets were closely cleared of top
scores and prices were well sustained.
Medium scores have not shared in the
strength apparent on top scores. Com
petition from storage and the fact that
many fancy marks still of in quality
partly explains the continued wide
range OF prices. Withdrawals from
storage continue to exceed those of cor
responding weeks last year.
Held and shelf-cured cheese is in fair
demand, while fresh cheese still moved
somewhat slowly. Although cheese
prices declined cent in some produc-
ing sections. city cheese markets con-
tinued in about the same position that
they held early in the month. Demand
has slightly improved IN most quarters,
and prices remained genera iy un-
changed.
Egg Markets Irregular.
Decreasing receipts of fresh eggs at
the principal markets during the early
part of October resulted in further ad-
vance in the price of fresh eggs. The
advances were not fully sustained in all
markets, for the higher prices attracted
more liberal shipments of extra quality
browns and mixed colors from the Mid
die West to the New York Market, and
prices eased of one-half cent on most
grades The Chicago market held firm
on all advances, owing to sharp de-
crease in receipts because Of heavy di-
rect shipments from many Middle
Western points to the Eastern markets.
Receipts Of fowl were only moderate
the first half of the month, but the de-
mand was hardly equal to the supply,
and the market was encrally weak.
Heavy chickens are in large receipt, and
prices declined further. Consumption
OF poultry recently has been less than
year ago, leaving a heavy surplus Tor
storage. Speculative interests, however,
have not been inclined to store heavily,
even at the reduced prices, so long as
receipts remain large. This hesitation
has made it necessary for the trade 70
carry prices generally under last year
levels in order to interest buyers for the
retail trade.
Cattle Supply Moderate.
The cattle supply at Chicago. al
though moderate for this season Of the
wear, carried more medium and GOOD
grades of slaughter steers than were
needed to meet current trade require
ments the first 10 days Of october, the
market for the dressed product having
been weakened by relatively low mar
kets for dressed pork products ana lor
dressed sheep and lamb. Yea! can
prices declined from so cents 10 81 our
ing the weeks trading under the lnnu-
ence of a sluggish dressed veal market.
lower lamb prices and an unsatisfactory
calfskin trade.
No great change was reported in the
hog market. Sows were selling more
closely to prices of butcher hogs than
for some time. Most pigs brought only
"a to $3.50. Top on hogs was $500.
The slaughter lamb market plunged
to a new low level for the season our
ing the first 10 days OF October, closing
cents to 81 lower than a week earlier.
The price break reflected weak ana
lower markets for dressed lambs, which
in turn were Influenced by heavy
slaughter the week previous.
A strike which resulted in shutting
several large worsted mills narrowed
the outlet for wool in Eastern markets
the FIRST half of october and added an.
other factor of uncertainty In the Wool
market, which has been unsettled 1or
several weeks, due to quiet goods mar
ket and q confusing foreign situation.
Mill Feeds Generally Lower.
Wheat mill feed prices averaged low
er with moderately light offerings meet
ing a slow demand. CottonSeed meal
underwent further reductions. Linseed
meal prices were maintained at North
western points, but at points where this
feed came in direct competition with
cottonseed meal some price reductions
were in evidence. Alfalfa meal ana
tankage were about unchanged.
Timothy hay markets averaged about
steady, with moderate to light arrivals
in fairly good request. Prices on the
better grades held up well at New York
CITY. but the lower grades were affected
somewhat by oversupply. Alfalfa mar
kets held about steady in the East and
Central West.