430 
American Agriculturist, May 12,1923 
Reviewing the Latest Eastern Markets and Prices 
•POTATOES CONTINUE WEAKEE 
HERSCHEL H. JONES 
W ITH heaviest supplies of the sea¬ 
son in the New York City freight 
yards, prices declined last week on 
both old and new potatoes. Idaho 
Rurals have been quoted as low as 
$1.90 cwt. sacked, delivered in carlots. 
Some sprouted and spongy have sold 
as low as $.3, full weights (180 lbs.), in 
the yards. States 150-lb. sacks sold 
from $2.50 to $3; Maines $3.50 @4.50 
for 180 lbs., bulk; Wisconsin round 
whites, $1.75 @ 2.60 for 150-lb. sack. 
Florida new potatoes sold on the 
dock for $6.50 per bbl, a decline of $2 
or more per barrel from the week 
previous. About 50 per cent of the 
crop has been moved. 
Some dealers in the market are of 
the opinion that old potatoes will clean 
up in good shape, counting on an im¬ 
provement in the demand between the 
end of the Florida season and the 
movement of large quantities of South 
Carolina and Virginia potatoes. A 
number of carloads of potatoes were 
put into storage in New York last 
week at the time of the excess supply 
in the yards in expectation of a some-* 
what better price. At country points 
last week practically nothing was 
bought. There were very few ship¬ 
ments made from Maine because of the 
interference with transportation facili¬ 
ties caused by recent heavy storms. 
Very few potatoes were shipped from 
New York State due to dealers holding 
for relatively high prices and prac¬ 
tically nothing was bought in Wiscon¬ 
sin and Michigan for the New York 
market. 
FANCY APPLE SUPPLIES LIGHT 
On fancy apples both barreled and 
boxed the market was quite firm last 
week owing to light supplies. Demand 
on all grades of apples was sufficient 
to keep the arrivals cleaned up at sat- 
isfactory prices. The prospect is for a 
favorable market for the rest of the 
season, although there will be a ten¬ 
dency to turn to other fresh new fruits 
from now on. 
Fancy Baldwins, A grade, 2-inch, 
sold per bbl. at $7, with some at $7.50; 
fancy Ben Davis reached $4.50; best 
and fancy Pippins, $7.50 @ $9. 
BUTTER UP AGAIN 
The slight falling oif in receipts last 
week, together with general good trad¬ 
ing, caused a stronger market and an 
advance in prices over the previous 
week. The demand for consumption is 
very active, and a considerable quan¬ 
tity of butter has been shipped from 
New York to other Eastern markets, 
which resulted in clearing up the fresh 
arrivals and reducing the stocks on hand 
in the wholesale market. Many dealers 
were disappointed at the lack of the ex¬ 
pected increase in receipts. Reports 
from producing sections confirm the 
earlier information that the season was 
late. It is possible that supplies may 
fun short enough within the next week 
or two to cause a still further advance, 
but the dealers in the market generally 
are quite conservative as to the sit¬ 
uation. 
Creamery extras, 92 score, were 
quoted on May 3 at 4314c, compared 
with 42c in the previous week, and 3614 
to 3714c on the same date in 1922. 
State dairy butter, fine to fancy, was 
quoted on May 3 at 43c, compared with 
34 to 36c on May 3, 1922. 
The stocks of butter on hand in cold 
storage in the four large markets of 
the country on Mav 3 amounted to 
1,176,069 lbs., compared with 1,277,703 
lbs. on the same date last year. Re¬ 
ceipts of butter in the four large mar¬ 
kets last week were 3,000 lbs. short of 
the previous week, but about the same 
as in the same week last year. The 
total receipts in the four large markets 
since January 1 are considerably larger 
than in the same period in 1922. 
CHEESE MARKET FIRM 
Instead of declining as expected, the 
cheese market last week became even 
stronger, and State fiats, fresh, aver¬ 
age run, were quoted on May 3 at 22c 
per lb., compared with 21 to 2114 c per 
lb. a week previous. State fiats, held, 
average run, continued at 2714 to 28c 
per lb. The Wisconsin primary mar¬ 
kets advanced early last week, and 
there is no indication of a material ac¬ 
cumulation in Wisconsin. It is reported 
that the continued cold weather in the 
West has prevented a rapid increase in 
the milk flow. In the East production 
has increased, but there is keen compe¬ 
tition for all good quality stock, and an 
unusually large part of the prospective 
production has already been contracted 
for. Receipts of cheese at New York 
last week were 578,871 lbs., compared 
with the receipts of 825,072 in the cor¬ 
responding week last year. 
These continued relatively high prices 
for cheese and butter will probably help 
the market for fluid milk. At this time 
last year fresh flats, average run, were 
selling at 16 1/2 to 1714c per lb., or 
about 25 per cent lower than the pres¬ 
ent price. 
BROILERS MORE PLENTIFUL 
The broiler season is advancing with 
gradually increasing supplies, and 
prices declined last week about 5c each. 
Colored large broilers sold at 55c each 
on May 3, small, 50c; Leghorns, large, 
50c; small, 40 @ 45c. Some sales of 
White Leghorn broilers by firms who 
have developed an Italian trade, are 
at higher prices than quoted. _ Many 
White Leghorns are shipped in too 
small. Demand now is chiefly for large 
broilers weighing around 114 to 2 lbs. 
each. In another month or two the 
large birds will become too heavy and 
the demand will shift to light stock. 
EGG MARKET HOLDS STEADY 
During the entire month of April 
and the first week in May the market 
for eggs held at higher levels than was 
anticipated, and instead of quotations 
reaching the lowest market around 
May 1, as was expected, there was a 
slight advance last week, especially for 
better qualities. The supply of fancy 
nearby hennery eggs continued scarce, 
and quotations on New Jersey hennery 
whites, uncandled extras, advanced to 
40 @ 41c per dozen. Nearby and near¬ 
by Western hennery whites, average 
extras, were quoted at 35 to 36c bn 
May 3, but the vast majority of the 
receipts of State and other nearby eggs 
were more or less defective and sold at 
prices ranging from 10 to 30c. These 
average quality eggs of irregular val¬ 
ues moved very slowly, and the market 
was dull for them. Some undergrades 
of nearby eggs sold at 28 to 29c. De¬ 
mand is strong for the large-size chalk- 
white shell, light yolk, fancy fresh egg 
at top quotations. 
Storage packed Western eggs of the 
quality of firsts and better are re¬ 
ported to be selling at a range from 30c 
up to 31t4c, with an occasional car at 
even higher prices. The total amount 
of eggs put into cold storage during the 
month of April was over 5,000 cases 
less than in the same month last year 
in the four large markets. In March 
this year, the receipts at these markets 
were 146,080 greater than last year, in 
spite of less favorable weather for pro¬ 
duction in February. The question is 
whether the production during the 
month of May is going to be propor¬ 
tionately larger resulting in lower 
prices than now prevail and a surplus 
accumulation of storage stocks. It is 
possible, as shown by statistics of 1918 
and 1922, for a shortage on May 1 to be 
changed to an excess before the point 
of maximum quantity in storage usu¬ 
ally around August 1. In general, the 
large factors in the wholesale egg mar¬ 
ket are, it seems, surprised at the way 
the market has held up during the last 
month, and it is possible that conditions 
may continue quite favorable for the 
egg producer. 
From reports received as to prices 
being: paid for eggs in the country, it is 
apparent that small producers unable 
to ship in case lots are compelled to 
sell their eggs locally at very low 
prices as compared with the New York 
market. 
At this time last year extra fancy, 
nearby hennery whites were selling 
wholesale at 1 to 2c lower than present 
quotations. Average qualities were 
selling then at about same prices, 
probably a little higher for the bulk 
of nearbys. 
VEAL SUPPLY MODERATE 
The receipts of country dressed 
calves at New York last week were not 
excessive and the demand continued 
fair at steady prices. The following 
quotations cover country dressed veal 
calves on May 3, per lb.: choice, 15 @ 
16c.; good to prime, 12 @ 14c.; poor to 
fair, 9@llc.; common, 5@8c.; barn¬ 
yards, 5 @ 7c. 
Dressed . lambs were in somewhat 
larger supply and poor to good, sold at 
$3 to $8 per carcass depending on 
quality, while choice hothouse lambs 
sold at $9 to $10. 
GOOD HAY IN DEMAND 
A quantity of new permits were 
issued last week for shipments of hay 
to the 33rd Street sheds at New York. 
Under the new rules these permits 
have a time limit of 15 days from date 
of issue and it is planned to issue a 
new batch every 15 days depending 
upon the tendency toward accumulation 
on the railroad. 
Top qualities of hay are scarce and 
in strong demand, but there is a con¬ 
siderable supply of low grade hay at 
all terminal points in addition to 
receipts by boat. Much of the boat hay 
is trash and is offered as low as $13 
per. ton. As warm weather comes on 
there will be very little demand for 
any hay with a percentage of clover. 
Heavy shipments of rye straw from 
New York State last week by river 
barge caused a decline to $30 per ton 
and a much duller market. 
GRAIN PRICES DECLINE 
Inactivity in buying caused a break 
in the grain market last week. Specu¬ 
lative b^uying of future grains became 
very nervous and irregular. The visi¬ 
ble supply of wheat was reported by 
U. S. Department of Agriculture on 
April 30, as 44,621,000 bu. compared 
with 31,281,000 bu. same date last year. 
The following’ were cash grain quota¬ 
tions on May 3: 
Wheat, steady, No. 2 red domestic, $1.46; 
No. 2 hard winter, export, $1.35 14 ; corn, No. 2 
yellow, $1.0214 : No. 2 mixed, $1.01% ; oats, 
No. 2 white, 56c; No. 3 white, 54%@55c; 
ordinary white clipped, 55% @57. 
Chicago—Wheat, No. 2 red, $1.30 ; No. 2 
hard winter, $1.22; corn. No. 2 white, 83c; 
No. 2 yellow, 83% @ 84c; oats. No. 2 white, 
46@47%c; No. 3 white, 46c: rye, 82 %c; bar¬ 
ley, 63 @ 70c. 
DULL TRADING IN FEEDS 
The demand for wheat feeds became 
less active last week, and the feed mar¬ 
ket generally was duller, although prices 
remained steady. Buffalo quotations on 
carlots Buffalo rate basis, in 100-lb. 
sacks, per ton. May 3, were as follows: 
Gluten feed, $39.55 ; cottonseed meal, $46.50; 
oil meal, $42; dried brewers grains, $35; 
standard spring bran, $35.25; hard winter 
bran, $35.75; standard spring middlings, 
$34.76 ; choice flour middlings, $37 ; white 
hominy, ,$35.80. No. 2 Yellow corn per bushel, 
94c; No, 3, 93c; No. 2 white oats, per bushel, 
53c; No. 3, 51 %c; barley feed, 74 @ 78c. 
WOOL PRICES FIRM 
The wool market is still firm and 
prices steady. The latest quotations 
available on the Boston market cover¬ 
ing Michigan and New York unwashed 
fleeces are as follows: Delaine, 55c per 
lb.; Fine, 48 @ 60c; 14 blood, 53 @ 54c; 
% blood, 54 @ 55c; % blood, 52c. 
Pennsylvania fleeces sold around May 
1, in the Boston market at: Delaine, 
unwashed, 56 @ 58c; fine unwashed, 50 
@51c; % blood, combing, 55 @56c; 
14 blood, combing, 57 @ 58c. 
Maple syrup unsettled 
Although a great deal of maple 
syrup and sugar of a wide range of 
quality is being offered to large New 
York buyers, it can hardly be said that 
there is any settled market yet. The 
lack of knowledge of quality on the 
part of both consumers and buyers 
throws the poorest sugar and syrup 
into almost direct competition with the 
best. In the last week a considerable 
quantity of Canadian and Vermont 
sugar of extremely poor quality, almost 
black in color, has been offered large buy¬ 
ers in New York at very low prices. Some 
manufacturers of blended syrup prefer 
this cheap sugar because of its strong 
flavor, but it is not to be compared 
with sugar made from pure, clean, 
filtered syrup. Really fancy quality 
pure maple in gallon cans is selling 
whol', sa e at $2 to $2.35 per gallon in 
gallon cans, and pure syrup of aver¬ 
age quality shipped on consignment is 
selling at $1.90 to $2 per gallon. 
Maple sugar is still quoted at 25 to 
30c in lb. cakes, but irregular quality 
tub sugar is offered at much lower 
prices. 
No firm prices seem yet to be estab¬ 
lished on Vermont sugar. The produc¬ 
tion in Vermont this year is estimated 
at somewhere near third-thirds of 
normal. 
' HONEY SEASON LATE 
The U. S. Department of Agricul¬ 
ture reports that the honey season in 
• the Northeastern States is two weeks 
later than normal. Heavy winter and 
spring losses are reported, usually 15 
to 25%, some as high as 40% and a 
few good beekeepers report losses 
under 6%. Clover looks fine but lack 
of rain is retarding growth in some 
sections. Bees are working on maple 
and early flowers. Supplies of honey in 
the country are nearly exhausted. A 
few sales are reported of white ex¬ 
tracted in single 60-lb. cans at 11 @ 
12c, in ton lots, 9 @ 11c per lb., single 
5-lb pails selling at 19 to 20c, in whole¬ 
sale lots, 13 @14c per lb. 
Dairy improvement association rec¬ 
ords shows that the feed cost of 100 
pounds of milk varies 40 cents to $1.30, 
depending largely on the production 01 
the cow. I 
Quotations From Eastern Markets 
The following are the prices at which farm products of special interest to 
eastern farmers sold on May 4: 
Eggs, Nearbys (cents per dozen) 
New Jersey hennery whites uncandled, extras. 
Other hennery whites, extras. 
Extra firsts. 
Firsts. 
Gathered, whites, first to extra firsts. 
Lower grades.. 
Hennery browns, extras. 
Gathered browns and mixed colors, extras.... 
Pullets No. 1. 
Butter (cents per pound) 
Creamery (salted) high score. 
Extra (92 score). 
State dairy (salted), finest.. 
Good to prime. 
New York 
40@41 
35 @36 
32% @34 
31@32 
31@34 
28 @ 30 
36 @37 
32 @34 
30 @31 
43% @44% 
43% 
43 
41% @42% 
Buffalo 
30@32 
29 @30 
46 @47 
44 @45 
42 @43 
34 @40 
Phila. 
29% 
28 
43% 
Hay and Straw, Large Bales (per ton) u. s. Grades Old Grade standaMs 
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 . . . 
$24 @25 
21 @ 23 
13 @16 
25 @26 
27 @29 
12 
$20 @21 
$21 @22 
19 @ 20 
21 @22 
15.50 @16 
26@27 
26 @27 
23 @24 
28@29 
26@27 
17 @19 
14 
17 @18 
7 % @ 10 
9 @11 
4%@ 5 
11 @14% 11 @12% 
5%@ 8 
9 
5 
8 %> 
6 % 
9 
