CARLOAD SHIPMENTS OF CITRUS FRUITS.

Fruit Prices Firm in New York; Vegetable Prices Dull and Lower.

Prices of apples in barrels continued firm in the New York market throughout the week from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1, principally on account of light arrivals of good stock. Prices of boxed stock declined on account of heavier arrivals, but the trade is still looking for large red stock, and taking it readily.

Potatoes continued in light demand with very liberal supplies, and prices gradually declined until Maine Cobblers in 165-lb. sacks reached $2.75 to $3, with few buyers.

Receipts of good onions were light with prices firm.

Peaches from New York were in light supply and mostly of only fair condition and poor color. Demand was moderate with good stock selling readily for $4.50 to $5 a bu.; ordinary and poor stock sold slowly in a $2 to $4 range.

Sweet potatoes eased off considerably in price. Grapes were dull throughout the week selling slowly at the lowest figures yet realized. Cabbage was not in demand and prices gradually declined closing at $30 to $35 per ton for New York domestic. The first car of California tomatoes arrived on Thursday, but with heavy supplies of nearby stock on hand, did not sell so readily as was anticipated. The tomatoes were in excellent condition, with a few slightly overripe. Best lugs sold at $1.75 to $2 with ripe stock at $1.50, but were not cleaned up and sold at $1.25 to $1.50 the following day.

DEFINITE IMPORT INFORMATION STEADIES BUTTER MARKET.

Tendency Toward Higher Prices—Danish Butter Has Sentimental Effect on Market.

Butter trading was on a more confident basis during the week ending Oct. 1 and the markets developed a steadier tone as a result of definite information regarding the quantities of Danish butter expected to be available in the near future. The persistent rumors of large shipments which during the previous week were partly responsible for the unsettled condition were soon quieted, and operators took a more conservative attitude. There was less pressure to sell and buyers were inclined to purchase more freely.

Price changes were small, but there was a general tendency toward a higher level, advances of ¹⁄₂¢ to 1¢ being registered on all markets on the finer grades of butter. At times the supply of fancy butter was somewhat in excess of the demand, but any efforts on the part of the sellers to get prices down were always met with an active buying demand from distributors and speculators. It was a good, steady market with holders usually free sellers and buyers taking immediate requirements readily at current prices.

MARKET ON UNDERGRADES IMPROVED.

The market for undergrades was somewhat more active. The heavy supply of last week showed but little if any reduction, and current receipts consisted largely of undergrade butter. The quality of receipts generally was reported considerably better during the week and this no doubt was largely the cause of the improved market in undergrades. More interest was shown in undergrades by buyers who bought for immediate needs or who got such price concessions as to make their purchases bargains, but as a rule dealers found it impossible to move all their undergrades even at large price reductions.

Receipts for the week show but little change from previous weeks. It was generally expected that production would gradually decrease in spite of the fact that conditions for a good fall production have been favorable. Hence, the latest available report from the American Association of Creamery Butter Manufacturers showing an increase of 9.8% over last year and an increase of 0.44% over the previous week came as a surprise. The storage holdings for the four markets showed a marked decrease during the week. The decrease was most pronounced at Chicago, indicating a movement of storage butter from there to other markets.

The S. S. Frederick VIII arrived during the week, carrying a cargo of 1,250 casks of Danish butter, which did not become available until Friday. Part of this butter was reported sold at prices ranging from 44³⁄₄¢ to 45¹⁄₂¢, depending upon the size of the lot. The S. S. Heligolav and Drottingholm now afloat with combined cargoes estimated at between 3,000 and 4,000 casks. The Oscar II, which sailed from Copenhagen on Sept. 30, is also expected to carry some butter. The effect of the Danish butter on the markets has been largely sentimental, causing operators to act somewhat more conservatively.

WHOLESALE PRICES OF BUTTER AND CHEESE FOR WEEK ENDING OCT. 1.
[Cents per pound.]

Wholesale Prices of Centralized Butter (90 score) at Chicago.
[Cents per pound.]

MOVEMENT AT FIVE MARKETS.
[New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and San Francisco.]

Dried and Frozen Egg Shipment Arrives From China.

Thirteen thousand six hundred and forty-three cases of frozen eggs weighing 1,200,564 lbs., also 448 cases of dried eggs weighing 48,800 lbs., were unloaded from the British steamship Gothicstar from China at San Francisco Sept. 15. The shipment is one of the largest ever received in this country.

On Sept. 19 the Gothicstar sailed for New York with a cargo of 59,108 cases of frozen eggs and 6,190 cases of dried eggs.

CHEESE MARKETS BECOME STEADY UNDER IMPROVED DEMAND.

Southern Buying Materially Increased—Considerable Quantities of Canadian Cheese Bought.

The tone of cheese markets was at least steady during the week ending Oct. 1, although prices which prevailed in Wisconsin during the week suggested a somewhat unsettled feeling. Prices on Wisconsin cheese boards advanced again Sept. 28, although the advances were for the most part small and were confined to the larger styles. Some dealers quoted prices representing very close margins, and this probably accounted for more or less variation in f. o. b. selling prices on different days of the week.

Daisies and Twins were good sellers throughout the week, Longhorns being the only style which was especially slow. Buying in the South showed a material increase. There was also considerable inquiry from southern buyers. Practically all of the southern business went direct to Wisconsin rather than through distributing market dealers.

RETAIL DEMAND INCREASED.

The very low prices quoted by Canadian dealers and the resulting sales had a noticeable effect in distributing markets. Goods from Canada at prices around 17¹⁄₄¢ to 18¢ delivered at New York looked so attractive to a number of buyers who anticipate heavier export demand later in the season, that considerable quantities were purchased. Only a small quantity of this cheese has actually been imported as yet, according to current reports, the bulk of it remaining in Canadian storages. The large Canadian Cheddars are not entirely suitable for our domestic trade, although in some markets certain dealers split them. They are used successfully, however, for grinding purposes and to some extent for making the small loaf cheese which has come into prominence the past season.

Retail distribution of cheese received an impetus during the week on account of the especially low retail prices advertised by large retailers, principally chain-store operators, in several eastern cities. Prices were reported as having been as low as 21¢ for cheese of good quality.

IMPORTS OF WOOL DURING AUGUST.

WHEAT AND CORN FUTURES DROP STEADILY IN PRICE.

Cash Premiums Strengthen in all Markets Except Minneapolis—Flour is Imported.

The wheat market closed lower every day except two during the week ending Monday, Oct. 3, and the net decline in the different markets was 6¢ to 10¹⁄₂¢ for the December future and 5¢ to 8¹⁄₂¢ for the May future. Corn was influenced by wheat and followed the fluctuations of the latter. The net loss in corn was 2¢ for the December future and 1¢ for the May future. Corn touched the lowest prices for the crop on Oct. 3. The September futures “went out” on the last day of September and except at Minneapolis, owing to local conditions in that market, at the low point for most September futures since early in July.

Closing prices of the September futures were: Chicago September wheat $1.16¹⁄₈, September corn 47¢; Minneapolis September wheat $1.41¹⁄₄; Kansas City September wheat $1.10. At Minneapolis, September wheat closed at 7¢ over December on the last day of September, owing to a strong milling demand for choice wheat.

The declines recorded in the December futures in the different markets during the week were: Chicago December wheat 6¹⁄₄¢ and December corn 2¢; Minneapolis December wheat 10¹⁄₂¢, Kansas City 6¢, and Winnipeg 8³⁄₄¢. The May futures recorded the following declines: Chicago May wheat 5¢, May corn 1¢; Minneapolis May wheat 8¢; Kansas City 5¹⁄₄¢; and Winnipeg 8¹⁄₂¢.

Closing prices on Oct. 3 were: Chicago December wheat $1.18³⁄₈, December corn 49⁵⁄₈¢; Minneapolis December wheat $1.28¹⁄₂; Kansas City $1.10¹⁄₄; and Winnipeg $1.22¹⁄₄. The May futures closed as follows: Chicago May wheat $1.23³⁄₈, May corn 55¹⁄₄¢; Minneapolis May wheat $1.29¹⁄₂; Kansas City $1.15; and Winnipeg $1.27.

FLOUR IMPORTS FROM CANADA.

There were several important developments in the general situation. One of these was a report from New York that 20,000 bbls. of Canadian flour had been bought to come to that market. This, of course, had a depressing influence on wheat prices. During August 3,700 bbls. of flour and 239,000 bus. of wheat were imported from Canada. This was for domestic consumption and not for re-export at American ports. Another bearish development of the week was a report that Hard Winter wheat on passage for Europe had been sold at 11¢ under the price at which it could be replaced. It was also reported that Hard Winter wheat was being resold in London at 5¢ under the replacement cost.

All of the news was not bearish, however. A message from the Pacific coast early in the week reported that 12,000,000 to 15,000,000 bus. of Pacific coast wheat were under contract for shipment to the Orient. Also, on Oct. 3 a message reported an additional 1,250,000 bus. of wheat sold to Japan. The impression appears to be growing in the grain trade that the United States has probably already sold for export all the wheat that can be spared and that there will be a scarcity later in the season unless there are liberal importations from Canada.

There were some changes in the cash wheat markets. At Chicago a good demand developed for No. 2 Red Winter and supplies of that kind of wheat were scarce. The premium over the December strengthened and on Oct. 3 was 5¢ to 6¢. At the same time No. 2 Hard Winter sold at ¹⁄₄¢ to 1¢ over December. Receipts of wheat showed a decreasing tendency at Kansas City and the premium strengthened. On Oct. 3, No. 2 Dark Hard Winter sold at 11¢ over Kansas City December, as compared with 7¢ over on Sept. 26. During the week Kansas City December wheat declined 6¢ to $1.10¹⁄₄. No. 2 Dark Hard at 11¢ over December sold at $1.21¹⁄₄ as compared with $1.23¹⁄₄ on Sept. 26. That is, cash wheat on Oct. 3 was only 2¢ lower than on Sept. 26. while the December future was 6¢ lower.

GRAIN PRICES.
Daily Average of Cash Sales at Certain Markets, Week Ending Friday, Sept. 30.
[Cents per bushel.]