AT THE MARKETS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 6

AT THE MARKETS.

THE SIGNS OF SPRING

One need not go into the fields to' tell that spring,is here. The markets' are more handy, and there the evi-' dences of the season of the year aro more concentrated than in the country. It was quite an exhilarating sen- •■ sation to visit the husy produce marts yesterday morning to'sco the greal baskets of daffodils,' narcissi and violets, being deposited on the table in long tempting rows, and to inhale the fresh ■perfume of flic thousand blooms. Tho spiing ikmcrs appear to get more beautiful and plentiful each year. Some of; the small farmers at tho Hutt now' make a point of putting'down an acre or two in daffodils. Just now theso , patches rcscmblo fields ot cloth of, gold'j. .-<-«! '<- ' '" ''

After all, even t such choice flowers are meiely ornamental, dipped in n httlo sentiment, and served up at the tea table as a feast for the eyes whilst| tho mouth is busy" with matters more materiel To turn to these: Potatoes keep their high pi ice, from 9s. to 10s. per c\H. for pretty sound samples. A line of small new potatoes arrived from Sjdney on Wednesday, 561b. bag lots bringing 175., which is 345. per cwt., and £34' v per ton—a big price. Sjdney may be expected to forward supplies of new " potatoes now until the new season's crop hero como into tho market, but they are not likely to alfect tho ruling price of sound "olds." Early rhubarb has been dribbling into tho markets m small lots. The tendril slago is uow passed, and fatter stalks are appearing on the benches. "Yesterday rhubarb brought lid. and Is per bundle, bufsupphes woro short of tho demand. Island oranges brought fron 7s. to Bs. per case, and bananas 9s i to lis. per case, extra good 12s. to 13s. per case Cabbages and cauliflower* are, becoming moio plentiful aa tho season advances, and the prices luvo fallen correspondingly. Cauliflowers have been fetching from 9s. to 10s. per sack, and the best cabbages "about 6s. per sack during the lattei portion of the neck. Lettuce is a drug in tho market—another evidence ot an early spring. (