Evening star., 1932-02-06

large, even for the quiet season OF late
Winter. Shipments Of leading fruits
and vegetables are scarcely 1000 car.
loads daily from all sources and the
seasons total is fully 10 per cent be.
low that of year ago. Lack OF active
demand gives the market dull, draggy
appearance and tendency to small
downward changes in the price level
but a few price recoyeries take place
here and there.
Potatoes are nearly steady in large
Eastern. markets. but they have beer
doing a little better in Midwestern pro-
ducing sections, while Eastern country
shipping points report dull, weak tone
Cabbage markets have made little re-
covery since the January slump. Carrot
prices are stronger in producing sec
tions. Onions have been holding recent
advances fairly well. Apply markets
continue irregular as for many weeks
past.
Onions in Firm Position.
The onion market presents interest
ing possibilities because Of the light
supply on hand. Holdings are less than
half those of year ago and mucn
lighter than In some recent years when
prices went higher than they are now
Accordingly, the holders are hopeful OF
strong ending of the market season
The main drawback seems to be the
general market dullnesS and the low
nrices for food products. Such conol--
tions make 1t hard to sell vegetables al
prices justified by light supply. An
other handicap Of the onion posltlon Is
the poor quality OF some hololngs' Aps
parently the best stock has oeen heto
1F a rkpI season
and the inferior onions have been rap
weeks So far, there has been little
competition from foreign onions; put
anv sharp advance in price might prlng
inonorts in considerable quantity, oe-
spite the tariff Of $250 per 100 pounos'
Trading was quiet in the onion
markets during the first week OF Fep-
ruary. Shipments for the entire coun-
trv were often no more than 5o carloIS
daily, and quantity on track IN IL leau-
ING markets sometimes fell as low as
an carloads. New York, Michigan ano
indiana continued fairly active ana
there were occasional carloads from lne
Connecticut Valley. The market posi-
tion appears more favorable now tnat
track holdings have been reduced pc
cause of recent light shipments. IN
western New York, the leading Eastern
shining section at this time, oally
oltput has often been as low as 5 10
carloads, but steady price conoluons
prevail Country sellers were trying 70
maintain values and some were mold
ing for higher prices. Recent sales
were mostly near 81 per SO POUNDS IN
the Rochester district and nearly the
same prices prevailed IN western
Michigan and in Colorado. Inc iaIge
city markets of the East report Agnt
to moderate supplies and slow 10 lalf4y
good demand, with fairly STEADY range
of prices. There was slightly upWaro
trend in Boston and Baltimore, also
in Chicago and several MldWestefn
cities, General jobbing range was from
sl.s5 to $3.50 per so POUNDS; rec
onions reached top prices of s2.75 and
white onions sold as high as 1915 IN
a few Midwestern markets. oregon
yellow onions sold as high as S2.75 in
st. Louis.
POTATO Markets Rather Firm.
The February potato market SO 1ar
has shown little response to light recent
shipments and the moderate supplies
on hand in the large cities. The SLOW
ness of demand is the weak feature
apart from the poor condition OF some
stock The main sign Of improvement
was in the firmness reported in west
ern New York and in wisconsin pro
ducing sections. Ruling price for
Standard stock in carlots, at Chicago
has been near 80 cents per 100 pounds
for some time Eastern markets report
moderate receipts and slow to moderate
demand Slight weakness appeared IN
Philadelphia, but the New YORK marKet
was firm. General jobbing range OF
Maine stock was still IS cents to SLY,
but washington reached top OF sI,o9
and various Southern markets Quoteo
$3.50. New York round whites solo AZ
90 cents to 81 IN Baltimore ana fitts-
burgh. Recent tendencies IN western
New York have been IN the oirectloti
of a slightly better market a4tloueli Il
there was pronounced rise III pllIee;
A larger volume of business was carried
-, and most of the sales were made
close to 10 cents per 100 POUNDS.
DesIers are paving farmers mostly 70
centx a bushel. in bulk. but at certain
stations the price is 80 cents for NO. l
stock. Shipments from Western New
Work have been larger than last sea-
son but from Long Island the ran
shinments are only about one nan
those of the previous crop year Wis
consin country markets are hrm. Dull
fairly steady conditions prevail At faf
Western shipping points.
Cabbage Market Quiet.
Not much trade is reported IN olo
cabbage either in the large markets OF
in producing sections. supplies OF gooo
market quality are becoming light
western New York is still shipping ~
to 40 carloads q day, and there are
occasional receipts of old cabbage iron,
other sources, Supplies are reported
lipht at several Eastern cities ana oe-
mand generally low. The same mar
kets report moderate to heavy recelpts
of Southern cabbage. Southern SNIP
pers have been trying, with some sue,
cess, to keep shipments down ano
prices at Texas points are CONSIDERABLY
above recent low levels. There was no
general change in city prices OF oio
cabbage, which sold in job !ots IN slh
of the large cities at SIT to S2z per toi,
in bulk. Most of the remaining olo
cabbage Is in western New YORK, Whele
loadings have now become compara-
lively light. Totals for the season 81
far are little larger than Tor the
Corresponding biliiC O JSNh No~'
from shrinkage and other causes Is
greater this season. but production was
larger than in the preceding year. ihe
market at Eastern shipping points mas
remained dull in early February: Sales
of late-keeping varieties in bulk were
mostly within a range of $40 to 81
per ton and occasional lots OF sacKeo
cabbage realized S12 to Sl6. some
poorer. small cabbage went as low as 81
The carrot market has been strength
ening in Eastern producing sectlonS
Supplies appear rather light and hoid,
ings are mostly in possession OF Local
dealers. Some sales in the Rochester
district went as high as SITS per loC
pounds, and washed carrots reached
s1.10 per bushel on few lots, the pre-
vailing range being 80 cents to 81
Even with shorter supplies commonly
reported from producing territory, the
carlot movement has exceeded that OF
last season Many Of the carrots raised
last year never went to market on ac-
count Of the low prices prevailing
iS Iitf1o chonpa in rity nricpS