296 POULTRY PRODUCTS 



necessary for delivery, prevents any deterioration, and to the 

 consumer it means an ever-ready supply. The prices received 

 by the producer are much higher than when products are 

 sold at wholesale, but the cost of getting the products to 

 market is much greater. One disadvantage of the local 

 distribution of poultry and eggs is the excessive amount of 

 labor required. 



Wholesale Markets. — On large poultry farms where great 

 quantities of poultry and eggs mnst be disposed of, the 

 products are generally shipped to wholesale markets, and 

 this is the best course if there are no markets near the point 

 of production. 



Much of the poultry and eggs shipped to the thickly popu- 

 lated cities along the Atlantic Coast come to the consumer 

 from the middle West, through wholesale channels, and in 

 cold storage cars. Where large quantities of fresh eggs and 

 poultry are shipped to wholesale markets from near-b^' 

 points, they are usually disposed of immediately, without 

 being put in storage. These are the best products that the 

 markets afford, and they bring the highest prices. As a rule, 

 the commission merchant grades all products which pass 

 through his hands; he invariably grades his eggs. All eggs 

 handled by commission merchants in New York City are 

 candled before they are sold. The advantage of a wholesale 

 market is that it enables one to dispose of an exceedingly 

 large stock. The bulk of goods sold at wholesale is inferior 

 in quality to that sold at retail. There is sometimes con- 

 siderable loss in eggs sold at wholesale, owing to negligence 

 or mismanagement on the part of the producer. Eggs are 

 often held too long before the time of shipping; and when 

 produced from small flocks and sent to large cities, they 

 usually pass through four or five handlings, which makes 

 them deteriorate. For example, eggs produced by small 

 flocks on small farms in the central part of the United States, 

 go through the following hands before they reach the con- 



