Evening star., 1932-02-10
PRODUCE MARKETS
LACKING IN TREND
Gains in Some Commodities
Are Offset by Declines
in Others.

states Department of Agriculture. Bu-
reau OF Agricultural Economies, Market
News Service. The slight advances or
recoverles in grain, sheep and lambs,
poultry and eggs were balanced by dull.
weak conditions in the cattle, hog and
DAIRY markets. Fruits and vegetables
sell at fairly steady prices Many farm
products are selling considerably above
the lowest point of last month. Sup
plies are generally moderate but any
sustained advance has been checked by
the dull consuming demand as well as
oy the slow movement of most lines of
trade.
Potatoes Fairly Steady.
Prices Of potatoes are rather irreg-
ular, with further declines in some dis
tricts. The Western New York market
on round whites was a little weaker at
go to 68 cents per 100 pounds sacked.
Northern Maine held steady at 43 cents.
Inc Michigan fob. market was lower,
but Wisconsin strengthened.
Florida Big Boston lettuce showed a
wide range of 81 to 81 per hamper and
New York City quoted some sales OF
Texas stock in crates of two dozen
heads at S2.25 TO $3.50. Cabbage held
about steady in Western New York and
the Southern Texas fob. market ad-
vanced. Sweet potato markets we're
unsettled and prices irregular. City
prices Of onions were generally firm to
higher. Shippers of carrots in West
ern New York received mostly Sl85 to
81 per 100-pound sack. The Western
New York apple market was rather slow
and dull; Baldwins in bushel tubs max
ing returns Of IS cents.
Butter Markets Unsettled
The butter markets the early part Of
February showed little or no improves
ment compared with the month before.
Dealers in general were conservative
and adopted free selling policy in or
der to avoid accumulationS Of the finer
grades which were available in supplies
considerably IN excess of the trade re-
quirements. Most buyers, too, were
cautious, confning their purchases to
immediate needs Butter production
continues TO show an increase over the
corresponding period year ago. The
heavier receipts and the recent light
movement out of cold storage have been
decidedly unfavorable influences on the
markets.
Cheese markets, at centers of distri-
button, while about steady in early Feb
ruary and not fully rejecting the weak
er tore OF the country markets, never
theless gave evidence Of an easy UNDER
tone. Cheese prices in Canada were
fractionally higher.
Egg Market Firm.
The egg markets for the first week in
February were mostly steady to firm.
Prices at New York remained un-
changed from the previous weeks close,
except on top-grade Midwestern mixed
hui
advanced y to l cent per dozen at
Chicago. Within the past 10 days the
weather became more seasonable. Heavy
SHOWS and lower temperatures checked
egg production to a certain extent.
while soft roads in Midwestern States
are slowing up collections.
Poultry dealers are now depending
upon storage stocks for a large part Of
their requirements, but Withdrawals
from storage during the first week Of
February we're only moderate. Liberal
supplies Of fresh-killed. dressed hot
house broilers are causing slow,
draggy market for storage broilers. and
prices range irregularly. Fowls are in
light supply, and prices have tended
downward slightly for several weeks.
Fryers and roasters are holding fairly
steady. The frozen-fowl market is weak
and dull.
Live Stock Shipments Less.
Marketings of all classes of live stock
at leading market centers decreased
moderately the first 10 days Of Feb
ruary. Common and medium grade
steers and yearlingS and fat COWS at
Chicago are selling near the low prices
for the season. Vealers have declined
fully so cents and stocker and feeder
cattle at least IS cents compared with
early in the month. 1t now takes strict
ly choice, grain-fed COWS with plenty Of
weight to bring "a on the Chicago mar
ket
Low-priced pork is still a big factor
in the cattle and beef market situation.
The average hog cost at Chicago figured
the lowest for the season and not much
stock sold above 81
The sheep and lamb market of early
February has charted a course opposed
to the weak trend of cattle values. The
advance Of so cents to 81 was not re-
hected to any appreciable extent by con-
ditions in the dressed trade.
A more quiet tone prevailed on the
Boston wool market. The volume of
sales began to taper off late last month,
and recent trading has failed to regain
full activity. On a few lines of wool
business is still moderately active at
steady prices. Woods of 58S. COS and
lower qualities were mostly quiet, but
quotations were unchanged, though
nominal on some lines in the absence
of sales. Most all grades of fleeces we're
quiet.
Feed Output Gains.
Feed production as indicated by -four
output increased seasonally through
the late Winter season. Increases in
activity have been rather general. with
the great actual increases in produce
ton at the Northwestern and South
western mills. Consumer demand for
wheat feeds continued generally light.
The Boston and Philadelphia markets
were slightly f1rmer with a little better
local consumer demand.
Timothy hay markets ranged from
slightly stronger at some Eastern points
to somewhat weaker in the Central
West. Demand remained slow at Bos-
tatlons remained unchanged. The tone
was slightly firmer at New York City.
Grain Market Unsettled.
Grain markets were unsettled during
the first week of the month, Influenced
by the disturbed situation in the Orient,
rapidly changing weather conditions
in the domestic wheat belt and further
liberal offerings of new wheat from
the Southern Hemisphere. Wheat fu-
lures advanced rather sharply early In
the month when severe weather in the
Central West threatened damage to
Winter wheat, but later declined when
the weather moderated and trade re-
ports indicated no serious crop injury.
Rye, corn and other feed grains mostly
followed the 1uctus tions in wheat.