Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-01
VEGETABLE PRICES
BECOME IRREGULAR
Recent Upward Tendency in
Prices Shows Evidence
of Slowing Down.

uctS became irregular ana unsettled TO-
ward the first of April. says the United
States Department of Agriculture, Blu
reau of Agricultural Economics, Market
News Service. There were slight de-
clines or setbacks in butter, cheese and
eggs The vegetable markets were ir-
regular, but recent sharp gains are
holding fairly well despite liberal sup
plies. Cash grain is fairly steady in the
unsettled general market Feeds tend
higher lately. Live stock markets are
dull, but veal calves advanced sharply
near the end Of March.
Potato Market Irregular. '-'
Maine potato prices at shipping points
advanced very sharply to top of SLIGO
per 100 pounds, and the Michigan fob.
market reached $i.621a Eastern job
bling centers quoted higher price levels
for Maine Green Mountains and for
New York round whites. The Chicago
car-lot market was lower on Northern
round whites, but stronger on all West
ern potatoes. Sweet potato markets
registered practically no change.
Old-crop- cabbage held steady in
Western New York, but was weaker in
consuming centers. New York Baldwin
apples advanced further at shipping
points to range of $l.85 to $3.50 per
buShel and SIS per barrel. Extra fancy
boxed WinesapS also advanced in the
Pacific Northwest to a range of 81 so
TO $1.70, but Delicious held at $1.60 to
$l.S5. Florida celery prices held firmly
The first carloads of Texas onions are
now moving to market. City prices of
old stock were weaker. Both Western
and Eastern lettuce tended downward
The tomato situation was firm. Straw
berry prices dropped rather sharply
New York bean markets were weak
near the LIST OF April. Sales were light
and prices somewhat unsettled Quo
tattonS at Jacksonville and New Orleans
remained about unchanged. Demand
was reported very light in Eastern Ohio,
western Pennsylvania and Maryland
and IN Northern and Western West Vir-
ginia. The movement of all varieties was
slow In Virginia, although spot stocks
ana conSignmentS are gradually work
ing lower. Demand in Michigan was
scattered and limited to light amounts
for immediate shipment in less than car
lots, Growers generally received $3.50
in bulk
Irregular Butter Market.
The butter-consumin territory be-
tween Chicago and Eastern Pennsylva-
mia has continued to draw quite heavily
on Chicago for its supply and these out
ing the Midwestern markets at a COM
sparatively higher level than the East
Production reports of producers or
carnations all indicate that the make
of butter has been well maintained.
Demand for storage butter is gradually
decreasing
When viewed in comparison with the
usual trend of prices in early Spring,
this years steady cheese market situa-
ton should have an encouraging effect
on producers as trend of cheese prices
usually Is downward at this season and
continues so until the first full-grass
cheese comes on the market. Then
there usually is a squirt upward until
later, in the storing season, when
prices usually decline to the low point
of the year.
Egg Markets Less Confident.
With less interest being expressed by
egg-breaking plants, more conserva-
tive into-storage movement and with
the rate OF consumption gradually
slowing down, the egg trade has lost
some Of its enthusiasm of few weeks
ago and now is not so confident about
any marked improvement in the mar
ket until the peak production has been
reached and passed. It is felt, how
ever, that this peak viii come much
earlier than year ago and when it
NODo SA41SS DAAC 4OAAOW4lS aGIAEdoE III UIO~
duction may be somewhat sharper than
usual.
Poultry in Good Position.
Due to the smaller holdings of pouI-
try in storage this year, the poultry
market was able to absorb the addi-
tional supplies in March without any
loss in values. In fact, some markets
reported advances of 2 to cents on
certain classes. Receipts Of fowl, both
live and dressed, show Indications Of
falling of considerably. This has tended
TO develop stronger sentiment on that
class and on the New York market to
crystalline in an advance of 2 cents on
the general run of offerings.
Live Stock Trading Slow.
Demand for slaughter classes Of live
stock was slow near the first of April,
reflection Of sluggish dressed trade con-
ditions and an anticipated narrow meat
outlet toward the end of the Lenten sea-
son. Net changes in values were, for the
most part, narrow. but were generally
in buyers favor. Receipts of cattle,
calves and sheep at IL important
primary markets increased. Extreme
top on weighty fed steers was Sill at
Chicago, with a sprinkling of sales at
$40 to $10.85. Selected vealers sold up
ward to $1l at Chicago on the Easter
price upturn.
Light hogs tended slightly lower,
while others showed little change in
value. Anticipating Easter trade re-
quirements, demand conferred rather
strongly on lightweight lambs, best
suited for the Easter outlet, resulting
in strong to 25-cent higher market
for q large proportion of the light
weight lamb crop.
Trade in wool on the Boston market
continued of stable volume during the
closing calendar week of March Prices
on domestic woods were within the same
ranges as during the week previous, but
within these spreads prices strengthened
somewhat on 5Ss, COS and finer grades.
Cash Grain Markets Steady.
While cash grain markets held steady
during the last week of March under
a fairly active demand for the lighter
offerings futures markets weakened
and new crop wheat deliveries at Chi
cago declined to the lowest point since
1895. Corn futures reached a new
low point on the current crop. Fa-
vorable prospects for Winter wheat
together with heavy supplies of old crop
grain and announcements that new
crop wheat prices would not be sta
bilized. were the principal weakening
factors in the wheat market. Pros
poets of increased acreage Of feed
grains this season, along with the. de-
cline in wheat, were principally re-
sponsible for the weakness in corn, oats
and barley futures. Rye weakened
with wheat, while fax declined slight
ly, rejecting lower Argentine markets
and slow inquiry for oil.
Feed Prices Advance.
Wheat mill feed prices continued
steadily on the upward trend, with
small offerings in good demand. Con-
sumner demand improved. Total sales