REPORT OF THE POULTRY MAXAGER 91 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



A DETRIMENTAL PRACTICE. 



A practice not infrequently indulged in by farmers is certainly detrimental to their 

 obtaining the highest figures. It is that of holding back their eggs until a sufficient 

 number is collected to make it worth while taking them to city or town. In this way a 

 large part of the eggs are stale before they leave the farm. The clerk in store and many 

 of the purchasers on the market are well aware of tJiis state of affairs and govern their 

 valuation of the eggs accordingly. 



On one occasion, during a recent winter montli, the writer was present in a leading 

 grocery store of the city, when a farmer entered and asked one of the clerks " if they 

 were buying eggs?" The following conversation then occurred: — 



Clerk. — How many eggs have you for sale? 

 Farmer. — Ten dozen. 

 " -Clerk. — How many eggs did you bring in ? 

 Farimer. — Twenty dozen. I have sold ten. 

 Clerk. — How many montlis old are the eggs? 



Farmer (indignantly). — They are not months old. They are fresh. 

 Clerk. — How many hens have you? 



The farmer told the clerk, who immediately offered a price 15 cents below the value 

 of ihe 'strictly new laid' article. The price was accepted. In this caise the clerk evi- 

 dently reasoned that if a small number of the farmer's fowls had been layers, some time 

 iiiuei have elapsed before twenty dozen eggs could have been gathered up. As a result 

 the eggs first collected would be a stale commodity and a price was named accordingly. 

 On the other nand, it is not always convenient and ofttimes impossible for farmers, who 

 live at a distance from city, or town markets, to make special trips to them, with only 

 a few dozen eggs. Hence, the waiting until such a quantity of farm produce is got to- 

 gethei as to make its disposal worth while. Such cases are frequently to be met with. 

 They also show one cause why new laid eggs, during the winter months, are not likely 

 to heach the city markets in over-ab\indance for some time to come. Farmers, who are 

 located near city markets, undoubtedly have the best opportunities to receive the highest 

 prices for winter eggs and the superior quality of poultry. 



AVHO OBTAIN THE HIGH PRICES. 



In report of last year several letters from farmers are given to show the prices re- 

 ceived by them for new-laid eggs and the finer quality of poultry. But farmers are not 

 alone producers of fresh eggs and chickens of the better quality. The different pro- 

 ducers may be thus classified : — 



1. Farmers who are located in the neighbourhood of cities and large towns and who 

 can readily reach purchasers who pay the best prices for the best goods. 



2. Farmers within easy reach of express offices from which eggs may be shipped. 

 The cost of eggs by express has increased from two cents per dozen to three cents. 

 Crates, as heretofore, are returned free. 



3. Specialists, amateurs, &c., who live in the suburbs of the city or town. Some of 

 the latter class are expert enough to have their hens lay well in the winter months. 

 They make it a feature to sell to only those who pay the highest prices. 



AN UNWARRANTED OPINION DONE AWAY AVITH. 



In the earlier days of poultry keeping in this country there was a popular opinion, 

 among farmers and many other poultry keepers, that in order to have eggs and poultry 

 flesh, in quantity and quality, it was necessary to keep two different varieties of fowls, 

 one to lay eggs only and another to furnish the proper type of market chickens. But 

 experimental work has unmistakably made plain that egg-laying qualities and correct 



