Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-18
PRODUCE MARKETS
IN UNEVEN TREND
Better Prices Noted for Eggs
and Cabbage-Cotton
Values Sag.


about as many gains as losses, says the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture, Bureau of Agricultural Economies,
Market News Service. Recovery in but
ter markets, higher prices of eggs and
cabbage, and sustained levels on many
lines of cash products were all more
important to some farmers than the
sagging grain and cotton markets, al
though the course of these staple prod
ucts tends to affect the general market
position. Live stock lines, except hogs
maintained prices fairly well. Turkeys
sold higher in Southern producing sec
tons. Early receipts we're light in
Northern markets, and the unseason-
ably warm weather unsettled the out
look. Mill feeds held most of recent
price advances. Potato markets showed
little change. but shipments are light
Cabbage and onions tended higher, and
celery slightly lower. Field beans have
held last months gains Of IS to so
cents per 100 pounds.
Potatoes Fairly Steady.
Little change occurred in Eastern
potato jobbing markets around the mid
die of the month. North Central pota-
toes held about steady in the Chicago
car lot market, but Nebraska TriumphS
were weaker, and Idaho Russets
stronger. Futures" for January de-
livery showed slightly lower position
for Idaho RussetS and Maine Green
Mountains, but somewhat stronger
tone for Round Whites. Prices of most
sweet potatoes were somewhat higher
in terminal markets. F. o. b. sales of
barreled stock on the Eastern Shore of
Virginia held about steady at rs to
IS cents, but the bushe1 pack advanced
to q range Of 40 to As cents.
Onions In city markets were selling
on higher level than the week before
Exceptions were the 50-pound sacks of
New York yellows and the crates Of i'm
ported Spanish onions: About IS car
loads arrived from Spain. Cabbage
prices advanced considerably. Danish
type was returning $3.50 TO SO per ton
bulk or Sill to $13 sacked at Western
New York points. Celery declined
somewhat ct Western New York coun-
try shipping points, but remained
steady in terminal markets.
The Potomac Valley apple market was
unsettled. YorkS in barrels returned
S250 and Staymans in busi1el tubs IS
cents. New York Baldwin apples
brought IS cents per bushel and $3.50
per barrel at shipping points.
Butter Markets Firm.
The id-November butter markets
showed considerable strength. Price ad-
varlces were recorded at all points. Buy
ing of butter In New York by Phila-
delphia users gave considerable support
to the local situation Other eastern
markets ruled full steady to firm but
the dealers in general were inclined to
operate rather cautiously, combining
their purchases to immediate require
rlnents, making little or no attempt to
anticipate future needs. Reductions in
cold storage holdings of butter during
October in the entire country were
23,988, 900 pounds, which were 2,145, 900
pounds greater than the reduction dur
ing October year ago. The milk flow
has been well maintained in practically
all sections.
After the sharp declines the second
week of November, in line with lower
country costs, the tone of the market
on fresh cheese was easy to steady. Ad-
vancing butter prices also contributed
to a more stable cheese market situa-
ton. The make of cheese in New York,
which during late months had been
unusually heavy, largely due to heavy
diversions Of milk from the fluid mar
ket and creameries to cheese, is being
ing redirected into the regular channels.
Turkey Receipts Light.
Very few turkeys were reaching the
terminal markets in mid-November,
there being only about enough to sup
ply current requirements. Increased
country prices have supplied a basis for
somewhat higher prices at Thanksgiv-
ing than were generally indicated few
weeks ago.
A somewhat steadier sentiment ap-
peared in the dressed poultry markets
the middle Of the month, especially for
fresh-ktlled chickens from the Middle
West. Receipts at the principal mar
kets for the first half of the month,
particularly on ROSTERS, were relatively
light, and although no improvement
occurred in the demand for consuflip-
ton, more activity was displayed by
spectators, who, attracted by the low
prices, took on some very large sized
blocks for storage.
Egg Market Strong.
Owing to lighter fresh supplies the egg
market showed marked improvement
during the first half of November.
Prices of top grades of Middle Western
mixed colors advanced approximately
cents during that period, while the
lower grades advanced around cents.
An even larger advance was registered
in the quotations on white eggs from
nearby Eastern areas and the Pacific
Coast, the increase ranging from 2 to 3
cents on the lower grades and to 2
cents on the top grades. Heavy stocks
of storage eggs still in warehouses, COM
bined with tagging interest in the
consuming demand for refrigerator
stock, created q weak and unsettled
market for that class of eggs.
Live Stock Prices Mixed.
Recent price changes in the Chicago
cattle market were largely in the way
of readjustment, medium and good
grades Of short fed cattle having
worked out Of line from beef merit
The spread in prices of hogs mar
rowed at Chicago around the middle OF
the month and became about as small
as it has been at any time in trade
history. The great bulk of good and
choice hogs of all weights between 160
and 325 pounds were selling within the
narrow spread of $4.75 to $4.85.
All classes Of sheep and lambs were
selling at prices fully as high as those
early In the month, choice
fat lambs showing moderate price gains.
Volume of sales in Eastern wool
markets during the second week Of No
vernber was larger than for some weeks
previous Sales included practically all
grades of domestic woods, and prices
tended toward strength. A fairly large
volume of SOS, COS and Sos, strictly
fleece wools, moved at % to
"a cents in the grease.
Feed Market Higher. g
Wheat feed prices advanced sharply
the first half Of November, the heavier
feeds showing greater advance than
bran. Corn feed markets strengthened
along with the advance in wheat feeds
sold higher.
Timothy and clover hay markets held
about steady. The light arrivals seem
about equal to present market require
ments. Boston terminals were 5ver-