350 
American Agriculturist, April 14,1923 
Reviewing the Latest Eastern Markets and Prices 
MAPLE SYKUP PRICES 
UNCERTAIN 
HERSCHECL H. JONES 
B ecause of the extreme lateness of 
the maple sap production season this 
year, it seems likely that the crop will 
be considerably short of last year and 
prices consequently higher. Up to 
April 1, no sap had been drawn in 
Vermont arid very little in New York 
State except in southern counties. A 
few large dealers have offered prices 
on new run syrup and sugar, but prac¬ 
tically no business in new maple prod¬ 
ucts has been done, and future prices 
are very uncertain. 
As usual New York City quotations 
have little relation to the market. 
Miscellaneous farmer packed syrup at 
the commission houses, old crop, is 
selling in a small way at $1.60 to $1.70 
per gallon, in gallon tins, and sugar at 
25 to 30c a lb. The practice of farmers 
in New York and Vermont, of shipping 
their syrup and sugar to commission 
merchants in New York and Boston is 
one of the biggest factors in keeping 
producers from getting better prices 
for their syrup. This ungraded product 
of irregular quality sells at whatever 
blended syrup manufacturers are will¬ 
ing to pay for it. Although undesirable 
compared with a uniform product such 
as that of the Vermont Maple Products 
Cooperative Exchange or Maple Pro¬ 
ducers’ Cooperative Association of New 
York, it enters into direct competition 
with the standardized product. These 
two organizations in the two biggest 
maple producing states of the country 
are making a fight for better grading, 
packing and marketing of maple prod¬ 
ucts that deserves the support of every 
farmer with a sap bush. 
SWEET POTATOES UP SLIGHTLY 
The severe weather around April 1, 
tended to check sweet potato shipments 
somewhat and make a better market. 
New Jerseys sold last week at $1 to 
$1.65 per bu. hamper, the top price 
going only to best graded stock. 
GOOD DEMAND FOR POTATOES 
Because of bad roads up-State and 
growers holding for higher prices, 80c 
@ $1 per bu, the buyers in New York 
City are ordering potatoes from Wis¬ 
consin and Minnesota at prices rang¬ 
ing from $1.90 to $2 cwt. sacked, 
delivered. The market in the yards is 
steady and the dealers are optimistic. 
Southern new potatoes are arriving 
in small quantities. Virginia Bliss 
Triumphs sold at $8 to 10 bbl. Florida 
Spaulding Rose in double headed barrels 
sold generally last week at $15 bbl for 
No. I’s. Bermudas No. I’s sold as high 
as $22 per bbl. 
Out of the 434 cars of potatoes re¬ 
ceived at New York the last week in 
March, 191 came from Maine, 71 from 
Long Island, 90 from New York State 
and 28 from Wisconsin. 
States bulk per 180 lbs in yards sold 
at $3.25 to $4 and Maines, up to $4.50 
on April 6. Most of the shipments in 
the yards at end of last week were 
sacked western, showing a large amount 
of frost. The best of these sold at $2 
to $2.75 per 150-lb. sack. 
MORE SOUTHERN CABBAGE 
Out of 77 cars of cabbage received at 
New York in the last week of March, 
only 11 came from New York State and 
58 from Florida and South Carolina, 7 
from California and 1 from Mexico. 
For really good old crop cabbage, how¬ 
ever, the. market was better the first 
week in April with prices at $25 to $30 
a ton. 
WESTERN APPLES HEAVY 
Not only in New York City but right 
in cities in the heart of fruit growing 
sections, western boxed apples have 
lately been in heavier supply in trade 
channels than barreled apples. Out of 
209 cars of apples received at New 
York the last week of March, 124 came 
from the West and only 68 from New 
York State and 17 from Virginia. The 
first week in April barreled apple re¬ 
ceipts were alap light and a large pro¬ 
portion showed scald and poor condition. 
The market was good for fancy barreled 
stock. Some of the Western winesaps 
of high color and attractive appear¬ 
ance now on the market have about as 
much flavor as a ball of sawdust. 
Wholesale prices barreled stock, A 
grade 2% inch at New York April 5, 
were: 
Best Fancy Ordinary 
Baldwins ..$5.75@6 .$6.25@6.50 .$4.50@5 
Greenings . 5.75@6 6.25@6.60 4.50@5 
Ben Davis . 3.75 4 3@3.50 
N. Spy_11@12 12.50@13 
BUTTER ADVANCES AGAIN 
In the middle of the first week in 
April, creamery butter went back up to 
the high level of two weeks or more 
previous. Creamery, higher score than 
extras, w.as quoted at 5114 to 52c lb., 
and extras at 50% to 51c on April 4, 
but on April 5 declined to 50 to 5014c 
for higher score and 4914 c for extras, 
which was still about 14 c ahead of the 
■yveek previous. Whenever the top price 
reaches 51c there seems to be a check 
in buying dnd reaction down again. 
New York has been just enough be¬ 
low the Chicago market to bring a large 
amount of out-of-town business, and 
shipments from here to other Eastern 
cities have been heavy. In addition to 
using up fresh receipts, the reserve 
stocks have been drawn on. On April 4 
called a “speculative level,” that is, to 
the point where speculative buyers see 
a prospect of making money by putting 
eggs into storage. Some of these specu¬ 
lative buyers have been willing to pay 
28c doz, for storage-packed by the car¬ 
load and 2714c for less than carloads. 
Pacific Coast whites, extras, sold 
April 5 at 35 to 35 %c. Fresh gath¬ 
ered extras (Middle West and South¬ 
ern) sold at 30 to 31c. Duck eggs, 
selected, at 42 to 43c per doz.; goose 
eggs, $1 doz. 
When you ship eggs in second-hand 
cases, be sure to remove all old mark¬ 
ings of every description and pack with 
excelsior pads, new flats and fillers. 
Write your address plainly on the tags 
and state the number of dozen eggs in 
the crate either on end of crate or on 
a slip inside. It is safer to get tags 
from the receiver to whom you ship 
than to use cards of your own. 
OVERSUPPLY OF LIVE POULTRY 
New York was oversupplied with 
freight shipments of live fowls from the 
West last week. On April 5 prices 
were 5 to 7c lower on both freight and 
express shipments than the week be- 
Quotations From Eastern Markets 
The following are the prices at which farm products of special interest to 
eastern farmers sold on April 5: 
Eggs, Nearbys (cents per dozen) New York Buffalo 
New Jersey hennery whites uncandled, extras... 36@38 . 
Other hennery whites, extras. 34 . 
Extra firsts. 31@33 29@30 
Firsts. 29@30 . 
Gathered, whites, first to extra firsts. 29@33 . 
Lower grades. 27@28 ...... 
Hennery browns, extras. 33 . 
Gathered browns and mixed colors, extras.. 29@32 28@29 
Pullets No. 1. 26@27 . 
Phila. 
27% 
25% 
Butter (cents per pound) 
Creamery (salted) high score. 
Extra (92 score).. 
State dairy (salted), finest... . 
Good to prime.. 
Hay and Straw, Large Bales (per ton) 
Timothy No. 2. 
Timothy No. 3. 
Timothy Sample. 
Fancy light clover mixed. _ . 
Alfalfa, second cutting. 
Oat straw No. 1. 
Live Poultry, Express Lots (cents per lb.) 
Fowls, colored fancy, heavy. 
Fowls, leghorns and poor. 
Chickens, leghorns. 
Roosters. . . 
Live Stock (cents per pound) 
Calves, good to medium. 
Bulls, common to good. 
Lambs, common to good. 
Sheep, common to good ewes.■ 
Hogs, Yorkers. 
50@50% 
54@55 
49% 
52@53 
48% @49 
50@51 
47% @48 
42@49 
U. S. Grades 
Old Grade Standards 
$25@26 
$20@21 
$21@22 
23@24 
16@18 
25@26 
18@19 
21 @2 2 
30@31 
16@17 
15.50@16 
25@26 
29@30 
30@31 
23 
26@28 
27@28 
21@23 
21@23 
15@16 
17@18 
19@26 
13% @14% 
12@14% 
(•••••*: 
4@4% 
5@5% 
(••••*• 
9% @12% 
13% @15% 
1* • • • * • 
3% @5% 
9% @10 
9@9% 
9% 
. 
there were only 1,570,396 lbs. in public 
cold storage warehouses, or less than 
25,000 packages. 
It looks as though production would 
increase very gradually, due to the late 
spring, bad roads, etc. 
EGG MARKET WEAKER 
After the Easter trade was over, re¬ 
ceipts of eggs fell off a little at New 
York, but the market became very weak 
and prices declined. On April 5 nearby 
hennery eggs were about 4c lower per 
dozen than a week previous. Prices 
were irregular and unsettled. State 
eggs as they run sold in round lots at 
30c per doz., with many sales at less. 
Some fancy Jerseys sold at 36c, but the 
best selected Jerseys brought 38 to 39c. 
The top price for fanciest State and 
other nearby eggs was 38c. On the 
same date last year the top price on 
nearby hennery whites was 37c. 
The total March receipts of eggs at 
New York of 980,934 cases broke all 
records. In the last 20 years, the 
nearest volume of March receipts to 
this year was in 1921, when there were 
979,513 cases. 
In spite of these heavy arrivals the 
movement into cold storage has been 
gradual. On April 4 there were only 
105,543 jcases in public cold storage at 
New York, compared with 217,234 cases 
same date last year. The total stored 
in the four largest markets was about 
one-third that of last year. Consump¬ 
tion of eggs increased enough this year, 
as prices went down to clean up the 
heavy March receipts fairly well. But 
a flood of eggs is expected this month, 
and prices tend rapidly toward what is 
fore. Poor white Leghorn fowls had 
to be sold as low as 23c to move them. 
The holiday demand for fancy fat fowls 
practically ended with the Wednesday 
before Easter. From now on and dur¬ 
ing the summer the demand will be 
greater for light fowls than heavy. 
Express shipments of broilers were 
in larger supply, trade was slower aiid 
prices gradually declining. The White 
Leghorn spring chickens received have 
been mostly too small for the best trade, 
and best prices are paid only for those 
over 1 lb. each. On April 5 Leghorn 
broilers, by express, sold at 55 to 65c 
each; colored broilers, 70c each. 
Rabbits, live, 30 (S) 32c lb.; pigeons, 
per pair, 70c; guineas, 70c per pair; 
ducks. Long Island, 35c lb.; ducks, 
other nearby sections, 28 @ 30c; geese, 
13 @ 15c lb. 
LIVE CALVES IN GOOD DEMAND 
In spite of fairly heavy receipts of 
live calves last week the market con¬ 
tinued good for them due to active 
demand. Prime calves found a firm 
market, selling April 5, at $15.25 to 
$15.50 per 100 lbs.; fair to good, $14 @ 
$15; small calves, $4.50 @ $6. 
DRESSED MEAT SUPPLIES HEAVY 
The supply of nredium-grade dressed 
calves was excessive last week, but 
there was no surplus of choice to fancy 
veals. Most sales on April 5 of fair to 
prime veals were in range of 10 to 14c, 
with a few selected at 15 to 16c. Com¬ 
mon calves were very low, small veals 
going down to 3 to 4c per lb. 
Dressed lambs were in heavy supply 
and very much lowei’, with market 
weak. Dressed lambs, poor to good, per 
carcass, $3 to $9, choice dressed hot¬ 
house lambs, $10 to $11. 
Very little country dressed pork re¬ 
ceived and market dull. 
WILL CONDEMN DIRTY CALVES 
There has been so much complaint 
lately relative to the dirty condition of 
country dressed calves received at the 
West Washington Market, that the local 
Health Department has announced that 
hereafter such calves will be condemned 
and seized. Skins or hides have been 
muddy and dirty, and more or less 
bloody in some instances. Condemna¬ 
tion will mean, that shippers lose not 
only the calf, but the transportation 
cost. It is suggested that after thor¬ 
oughly cleaning the carcass, both inside 
and out, the skin on each side of the 
opening from the neck to the rump be 
drawn together by sewing with white 
cord to keep out dirt which may be 
gathered in transit. 
LITTLE CHANGE IN HAY MARKET 
Arrivals of hay at New York last 
week were not heavy and prices and 
conditions changed very little from the 
previous week. The market continued 
fairly firm, but it is the general belief 
that shipments will increase rapidly as 
the country roads get better. The 
quality of most of the hay received is 
very poor and “No. 1 Timothy” is 
practically unknown on this market 
now. There is always a real demand 
for better quality of hay. Clover and 
timothy mixed with a low percentage 
of clover has sold fairly well lately but 
will not be wanted when the weather 
is warmer. 
Rye straw is unusually scarce and 
sells easily at $30 to $32 a ton. Some 
Canadian hay arrived lately but sold at 
discount because pressed too heavily. 
No Hudson River boat shipments as 
yet. 
FURTHER DECLINES IN FEED 
There were further declines in vari¬ 
ous feeds last week as shown by follow¬ 
ing prices per ton, in 100-lb. sacks, 
carlots Buffalo rate basis: 
Gluten feed, $40.55 ; Cottonseed meal, $44.76; 
Oil meal, $39; Dried brewers grains, $49; 
Standard spring bran, $33.75; Hard winter 
bran, $34.25; Standard spring middlings, 
$33.26 : Choice flour, middlings, $36.25 ; White 
hominy, $32.05. 
Corn advanced %c. Rye declined Ic per bu. 
No. 2 yellow corn per bushel, 86%c: No. 2 
white oats, 53%c: Barley, feed, 72@76c: No. 
2 Rye, 90c. 
CASH GRAINS AT NEW YORK 
The following were cash grain prices 
at New York, April 6: 
No. 2 red wheat, $1.49% ; No. 2 hard winter, 
$1.35; No. 2 mixed durum, $1.27%: No. 2 
yellow corn, 95c: No. 2 mixed corn, 94% ; No. 
2 white oats, 56c: rye, 93c; barley, 80@81c: 
buckwheat, $1.86@$2.10. At Chicago—No. 2 
yellow corn, 76%@77c; No. 2 white oats, 45% 
@46%. 
WOOL 
Get our price before 
you sell. We buy it 
in large or small lots. 
Spot cash; quick re¬ 
turns. Will furnish 
sacks. Write to-day giving us full par¬ 
ticulars. Send the names of your friends. 
KEYSTONE HIDE CO., Lancaster, Pa. 
WRITE FOR FREE SHIPPING TAG S 
SHIP YOUR EG^ 
WHITE AND BROWN 
To R. BRENNER & SONS 
Bonded Commission Merchants 
358 Greenwich St., New York City 
SHIP to the right house 
M. ROTH & CO. 
EST. 1892 
185 Duane St., N. Y. C. 
Write for shipping Tags. 
WANTED FRESH 
Brown and White Eggs 
Also Duck Eggs 
GEO. M. RITTENHOUSE & CO. 
23 and 25 Jay Street, New York 
Ettablished 1867 
