12 FARMER'S BULLETIN SOD. 



winter of 191-1 15 show that the hogs delivered to the plant average 

 three for each patron. These facts show that the local market for 

 h.g> thus provided by ice plants is of particular value to the small 

 fanner. He receives more for his hogs than he otherwise would, a 

 fair profit is made at the ice plant, and a good home product is 

 offered the consumers at a reasonable price. 



During- the winter of 1914-15 the practice of purchasing hogs 

 from farmers was taken up at three plants in Arkansas, and, under 

 the supervision of a representative of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, it was extended to 10 ice or cold storage plants in that State 

 during the winter of 1915-10. As a. result of the work in Arkansas, 

 at least one ice company in Louisiana and two in Mississippi are 

 now buying dressed hogs from the farmer-. 



Not only does this business furnish the farmer a steady and 

 substantial market for his hogs during the winter months, but it 

 makes it possible for the owners of ice plants to utilize their equip- 

 ment and storage rooms as a source of revenue during a period when 

 the ice business is dull. It is not likely that a very large number of 

 hogs will l)e handled by any one ice plant. However, this outlet 

 offers encouragement to farmers who are starting in the business of 

 raising hogs and gives them a market for their surplus while pro- 

 duction is being increased and other markets or packing-house cen- 

 ters are being established. 



MUNICIPAL OR PUBLIC ABATTOIR AS AN AID IN THE LOCAL 

 MARKETING OF LIVE STOCK. 



Centralized slaughtering at abattoirs either municipally owned or 

 pri\ately owned and operated under city inspection is increasing 

 each year throughout the country. Investigations by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture indicate that at least 22 cities in 

 \ ' states now ha 1 -'e such plants, the greater number of which are 

 located in the South. Five of the 7 cities which own abattoirs and 

 1-J of the 15 which have privately owned public abattoirs are south- 

 ern <'}{ ies. 



The main purposes in establishing these abattoirs are to enable 

 municipalities to farry out effectively a thorough system of inspec- 

 tion, to overcome insanitary conditions, and to provide refrigeration 

 facilities for locally slaughtered meats. But many feat tires in con- 

 nection with institutions of this kind are of interest from the stand- 

 point of marketing. Principal among these are the utilization of 

 offal, pracj icallv all of whirl) is wasted in the old tvpe of local slaugh- 

 (crhouse, the ics.-cninii' of the percentage of cut, hides, and the better 

 appearance ol drc ;<! carcasse.- because of improved facilities and 

 more Careful handling. The local demand for home-grown meats, 

 particularly beef, ha.-, inc.reasi.'d in several instances with the advent 



