REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER 279 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The same care and effort is necessary in the production of the superior quality of 

 poultry. The producer with well fleshed, carefully plucked and neatly dressed chickens 

 is far more likely to receive a high figure than the seller who has poorly-plucked, ill- 

 coloured, scrawny chickens. The highest price markets of to-day call for a high 

 quality article. The producers who take the trouble to cater to this market obtain 

 the highest figures. Those who have the inferior quality must be content with lower 

 values. The aim of the farmers should be to cater to the highest quality trade. 

 Farmers are certainly in the most favourable position to take advantage of the high 

 prices. Usually they have grain, roots, clover and other articles of feed in abundance 

 and frequently in the shape of waste. At any rate they are available at first cost. 

 No more profitable use could be made of any kind of grain or vegetable waste than by 

 feeding it to poultry. 



Speaking of the demand for strictly new-laid eggs in Montreal last winter, a 

 leading dealer in that city remarked: ' While we have great difficulty in supplying the 

 increasing orders of our best class of customers for strictly new-laid eggs at high 

 values, we have hundreds of cases of eggs, just in from the country and called fresh, 

 but we cannot rely on them.' This statement conveys its own moral. 



But where are the high prices paid is a question often asked by farmers. Again, 

 the complaint is occasionally heard that the high prices are not received. At a recent 

 meeting of farmers, at which the writer was present, one of the audience said : ' I send 

 only strictly new-laid eggs to the city, but I do not get the highest value.' ' Did you 

 make it plain that the eggs sent by you were of a superior quality?' 'No,' was the 

 reply. The question was then asked, ' How did you send them ?' ' Oh, in a crate, 

 just as other eggs are sent.' A great mistake was made in so sending the eggs. 

 There was nothing to distinguish them from other eggs, which are usually stale when 

 they reach the dealer, and are paid for accordingly. Speaking of this phase of the egg 

 .trade, the manager of a large grocery establishment in this city said: 'We have no 

 difficulty in selling egg's put up-in this way' — taking up a neat cardboard box containing 

 one dozen eggs and bearing the label — ' From Henry Nest. Pulletville Farm. These 

 eggs are guaranteed strictly new laid ' — and for such a select, neatly put up article 

 we have been paying fifty cents a dozen. At the same time we receive many cases of 

 eggs which are paid for at thirty and thirty-five cents per dozen.' And why make 

 S'jch discrimination? 'Because, as a rule, farmers hold the eggs until they are stale, 

 and when the eggs reach us they are not a first-class article. But when we know the 

 man and the high quality of the goods he sends us, we do not hesitate to pay the 

 best prices.' Later on in this report it is shown where, by the formation of co-opera- 

 tive egg circles, the farmer is helped to place his goods in the hands of the buyers 

 with less delay and trouble than formerly. 



PRICES PAID BY LEADING PURVEYORS IN DIFFERENT CITIES. 



The interesting and often-times asked query as to whcci and where the highest 

 prices are paid is answered in the following letters from well-known purveyors in the 

 cities named. It will be noted that ' strictly new-laid eggs ' are distinctly specified in 

 most of the letters as follow : — 



Walter Paul, 



461 St. Catherine St. 'West, 



Montreal, March 27, 1911. 



The Manager, Poultry Department;, Experimental Farm, 



Ottawa. 

 Dear Sm, — With regard to the prices of eggs, I find from my books that from 

 early in November, all through till the end of December, we paid from 50 to 55 and 60 

 cents per dozen. After the turn of the year, eggs became more plentiful so that prices 

 eased off a little, from 45 to 40 cents. It was not until the beginning of March that 

 prices came to a reasonable figure. 



