1921.] 



Egg and Chick Distribution. 



845 



With regard to eggs, gluts on the market are not avoidable, 

 though they can be mitigated by the producer arranging that his 

 hens come into lay at the time of year when eggs are scarcest. 

 Eggs frequently give indifferent returns because they are not 

 properly graded and packed, and the buyer is not satisfied that 

 they are of reliable quality. Carelessness in collecting and stor- 

 ing, delay in marketing, and the holding back of eggs in prospect 

 of a rise in price, are among the reasons why eggs of doubtful 

 quality are sent to the salesmen. Clearly, the buyer cannot risk 

 his reputation by passing them on as eggs of a reliable standard. 

 He requires regular consignments of first-grade eggs, to which 

 he can apply an accurate label of high quality. The competition 

 from imported eggs is much greater than in the case of poultry, 

 and it is actually the position now that eggs from the Continent 

 are at present more reliable for sale as new-laid than some con- 

 signments of English eggs. This can be remedied by prompt 

 and business-like methods on the part of our producers, and the 

 marketing of their eggs through co-operative societies which will 

 attend to regular collecting, proper grading, packing and 

 marketing. 



****** 



The Ministry recently issued to Local Agricultural Educational 

 Authorities the outline of the scheme for the distribution of 



Egg and Chick hatchin § e 8*B' s and newly-hatched chicks 

 Distribution amon g small-holders, cottagers, and other 

 Scheme small poultry-keepers in rural districts. 



For this purpose, breeders have been 

 selected by the Local Authorities and approved by the Ministry, 

 and arrangements made for them to supply eggs and chicks to 

 small poultry-keepers at somewhat lower than the usual prices 

 charged. The approved breeders are to be known as station- 

 holders. They are required to provide and maintain for station 

 purposes at least 86 hens, or 24 hens and 12 clucks, of a breed 

 or breeds to be approved by the Agricultural Education Com- 

 mittees. Other conditions are imposed, and it is desirable that 

 all station arrangements should be completed before 15th Decem- 

 ber next. The County Committee will fix the prices at which 

 the eggs or chickens, or both, may be distributed, and generally 

 supervise the whole scheme. 



Satisfactory reports have been received by the Ministry from 

 County Committees on the working of the scheme during 1921. 



