Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-10
FOR FARM
PRODUCTS DECLINE
Butter, Eggs and Southern
Vegetables Are in Good i,
Supply.

EIICcS O1 IhEu1 pEOQuCLS Lkle urSb ~
days Of February show rather more
losses than gains, says the United
States Department of Agriculture, Blu
reau of Agricultural Economics, Market
News Service. Supplies of butter, eggs
and Southern vegetables tend to in
crease. The season has started early in
some regions, resulting in liberal ship
ments and falling prices. Potatoes hold
recent prices in Chicago, but weakened
to 10 cents in some markets. Prices
Of chickens are well maintained, with
supply light, but fowls are back to low
point of the first of the year. Trend of
most live stock and Of hides and wool
is still slightly downward. Cotton mar
kets have advanced slowly for a month
or more
Potatoes Fairly Steady.
Old potatoes held well In Eastern
markets the flrst 10 days Of February,
but the Chicago carlot market was
tending slightly downward on North
ern and Western stock. Sweet potato
markets were unsettled. Delaware and
Maryland yellow stock strengthened
slightly.
Stocks Of cabbage on hand January
1 in seven late-Shipping States were
estimated at 62,244 tons, or IL per cent
more than holdings Of year ago, but
were 6 per cent less than stocks on
January /, 1929. About two thirds OF
the supply was still in the hands OF
growers. Holdings were equivalent to
4 $50 cars. Total shipments from Janu-
airy / to the end of the season are
likely to be around 300 cars, OF which
some 2,100 cars moved during Janu-
ary City markets quoted slightly
higher level for New York Danish-type
cabbage, but lower prices were reported
on Wisconsin stock and on neW-crop
cabbage from the South.
Celery was firm. Fob. prices tended
downward at Florida points. Prices OF
onions were generally lower, except on
Western Valencia-type onions. yellow
varieties ranged SO to IS cents per 100
pounds at Eastern and Northern ship
ping points.
Apples showed practically no change.
Strawberries declined to rather low
mark at Florida points. South Florida
has an estimated IL 100 acres OF toIna.
toes, or nearly as many as last season.
The Lower Valley of Texas expects de-
cided increase in tomato acreage. Prices
of good tomatoes were advancing nearly
everywhere in early February.
Fowls in Liberal Supply.
In view of the heavier receipts OF
dressed poultry, the general poultry
market weakened slightly during the
first week of the month. Live fowl de-
clined 3 cents and dressed fowl 2 cents.
The dressed fowl market was strength
ened, however, by. the. confidence OF
many dealers in the outlook for the
remainder of the year, and they sent a
large proportion Of their receipts TO-
cold storage.
The egg market weakened still FUR
ther early this month under ample
supplies, with losses of ~ cents being
recorded on eggs from the Middle West
ern States and from Eastern sections.
Butter Prices Lower.
Arrivals of butter have continued
heavy this month and prices declined
2 cents, reaching new low levels for
fresh butter at this time of year. Pro-
duction of butter during the past two
months has been decidedly greater than
during the corresponding period year
ago.
Cheese trade sentiment in city mar
kets was largely reflection OF condi-
tons in producing sections ana of the
unsettled butter situation. Fractional
declines on fresh styles were reported
from practically all markets, in antici-
patton Of reduced replacement costs.
Live Stock Mostly Lower.
Prices of most classes and grades of
live stock declined during the first week
Of February. Veal calves and extremely
limited supplies Of well conditioned,
heavy fed steers alone escaped down.
ward price revisions. Dressed trade con-
ditions unfavorable to the selling side
were credited as being the chief factor
of depression. The decline in cattle
values, however, was furthered by an
increase in marketingS at IL important
primary markets of approximately 49,
900 over the preceding week. Receipts
OF all species were moderately LIBERAL,
although unloads of hogs and lambs de-
creased moderately from the week pre-
vious. The general average price of
hogs for the first week of February was
the lowest of the current season and
the lowest since Midsummer, 1924. All
slaughter classes Of sheep and lambs
showed net losses for the week at Chi
cago, ranging from IS to rs cents, with
fat lamb values at the close rs cents to
81 lower than the best time Of the week
previous.
On the Boston wool market, trading
during the opening week of February
included more SiZeable quantities of the
more active lines of domestic woods.
Large manufacturers, as well as numer-
Gus smaller mills, were in the market
to cover orders for goods requiring Gas
and finer, and SOS, Cos Western grown
woods. Prices on these lines were in
clined slightly against the buyer.
Grain Market Firm.
Domestic grain markets strengthened
slightly during the first week of Feb
ruary. Continued dryneSS in the princi-
pal wheat areas Of the United States
and Canada, some reduction in trade
estimates of the Argentine surplus as
result of wet weather during harvest,
and slight improvement in demand
from deficit areas were the principal
strengthening influence in the wheat
market. A steady inquiry for the mod
crate offerings Of feed grains held prices
of corn, oats and barley practically un-
changed. Rye advanced slightly in the
futures markets, while max gained some
strength through more active inquiry
and reports OF reduced supplies In Ar
gentina.
The somewhat firmer tone In the
grain market tended to steady the feed
market, but demand did not show suf-
ficient Improvement to definitely
cnange the present preVal1ng down.
ward trend. Stocks in retailers hands
are believed to be generally light and q
sudden lowering of temperatures to be-
low normal might stimulate good vol
ume of inquiries. Spring wheat feed
markets declined from IS cents to 81 so
per ton, but the hard and soft Winter
wheat feed markets held unchanged to
only slightly lower. Linseed meal prices
tended downward. Gluten feed and
meal and hominy feed were slow sale
with liberal offerings in slow demand
The Atlantic seaboard markets were