400 



The Marketing of Poultry. 



[OCT., 



by the milk train. They should be packed alive in "flats," 

 fourteen to twenty in a crate according to size, in lots of not less 

 than twenty if from any distance, when it will be found that 

 railway carriage usually works out at under 3d. per bird and 

 commission at about the same. The prices vary from 2s. 6d. 

 upwards per bird. 



In connection with the trade in fattened poultry, the follow- 

 ing observations by the Irish Department of Agriculture are of 

 interest: — 



" Trade not ahvays Profitable. — It must not be assumed that 

 chickens can always be bought at current rates in Ireland, 

 crammed and sold at a profit. In certain months of the year, 

 on the contrary, the work must result in loss, and during a 

 big game season this loss may be very considerable. From a 

 profit and loss standpoint the period from middle of September 

 to middle of December is the most difficult time of year for the 

 crammer ; it is not easy to stop the work during these months 

 and take it up again when prospects improve, neither is it 

 possible to have at all times certain orders awaiting the time 

 when chickens are ready for killing. The ideal condition would 

 • be for the orders to be in hand and the birds then to be bought 

 at a price that would leave a margin after cramming and other 

 expenses were added. This idea may be worked for, though it 

 is not easy of attainment. 



" Cold Storage, — To meet these difficulties other countries 

 have resorted to the cold storage of poultry. Inquiries have 

 been made on this matter, and there seems to be nu doubt that 

 America and Russia largely use this aid in the conduct of their 

 poultry work ; that when birds cannot be sold at remunerative 

 prices, they are cold-stored till prices rise ; that prices do rise, 

 arid birds so stored are then sold as cold-stored chickens, 

 realising a profit on the original cost, the expenses of storage 

 and interest of money ; that a system of " warrants " are issued 

 against cold-stored produce, upon which advances are made to 

 holders of good standing by their bankers ; that, further, Irish 

 birds have been cold-stored when prices have been low (in 

 1905) and sold (in 1906) when prices have risen ; that the 

 quality has been approved by the buyers." The much better 

 prices realised turned the loss, which would have occurred if the 



