50 



but we expect to get everything definitely organized in due time. It is 

 not much use asking farmers to become members of an organization from 

 which they are deriving no benefit, so we are just asking them to bring 

 in their eggs or send them if they want to. If they bring in their eggs, we 

 try to sell them. If they don't want to bring in any eggs and are not 

 interested, we don't care. 



As further information relative to our work, I will read now from a 

 recent report from the Poultry Department to the Director of the College : 



''The co-operative marketing association project, organized during 

 the year and which has now been in operation about seven months, 

 developed more satisfactorily even than we had anticipated. The depart- 

 ment has supervised the organization of the Ithaca Producers' Associa- 

 tion. This project is under the immediate supervision of Mr. E. W. 

 Benjamin, who reports that the association has been handling the poultry 

 and eggs produced by 168 patrons within a radius of approximately ten 

 miles of Ithaca. The number of eggs handled by the association for its 

 patrons from March 1 to October 1, 1913, seven months, was 31,51 1| 

 dozens, equal to 1,050 cases of thirty dozens each, or approximately two 

 and one-half car loads. The amount of poultry handled during the same 

 time was 6, 538 J lbs., or approximately three and one-quarter tons. The 

 total net returns to the patrons were $7,753.86. It is estimated that the 

 patrons have been aided in receiving about three cents per dozen more 

 for their eggs and two cents per pound more for their poultry than they 

 would otherwise have been likely to receive; or, expressed in money 

 value, the patrons have received about $130 more for their poultry and 

 $945 more for their eggs, or a total of $1,076 more than they would other- 

 wise have been able to secure by the usual methods. This increase in 

 profits is due, primarily, to greater care in testing, grading and packing, 

 which has resulted in higher prices being received. The educational 

 value of the project is a stimulus to greater production of a better quality 

 of poultry and eggs. More systematic care and accounting is of even 

 greater advantage to the patrons than the increase in their net profits, 

 due to the sales. The project is of benefit not only to the producer, but 

 also to the consumer, and has resulted in securing close co-operation 

 with persons who otherwise might not be in touch with the college." 



This educational feature is one of our strong points. At certain 

 intervals we send out circulars to these farmers telling them how to 

 market their products, at what particular time to sell; how to pack their 

 poultry when they bring it up for sale; how to keep their eggs; that is, 

 in a cool or rather moist place; not to allow the eggs to heat nor to getr 

 chilled; not to allow the male birds to be with the laying hens, and many 

 other timely suggestions. 



The fertile egg is probably one of the greatest troubles we have at the 

 present time in the handling of market eggs. The germ of the fertile egg 

 will start to develop at a temperature of about 72° Fahrenheit, and if 



