644 



Marketing of Poultry. 



[FEB., 



absence of this they should be allowed to remain for some hours 

 in a cool room, until the body heat has entirely gone. 



The question of the grading of poultry is also of great im- 

 portance. It is very desirable that only birds of about the same 

 size should be packed together, but if those of different sizes 

 must be placed in the same package they should be arranged in 

 layers, and the fact that they are so packed should be stated 

 when advising buyer of dispatch. The sizes may be, for fowls, 

 3 to 3 J lb., 3 J to 4 lb., 4 to 4 J lb., and 4 \ to 5 lb. It is advisable 

 that separate pads, baskets or boxes should be used for different 

 sizes, each box being marked with a distinctive brand and 

 clearly showing the number and size of the birds. In Surrey it 

 is the practice after the chickens have been shaped for them to 

 be floured and packed in specially made crates called " pads," 

 which are of different sizes and hold respectively 12, 16, 20 

 and 24 birds. 



Ducks, geese and turkeys should be sent in baskets or strong 

 crates, with the number and actual ■ weight of the contents 

 marked on one end outside. 



In packing poultry the birds are laid breast downwards on 

 clean straw, and packed as tightly as possible to prevent their 

 shifting while on rail. Clean butter paper is, by the best 

 packers, placed between each layer of birds to prevent the 

 straw marking the backs and rubbing off the skin. Though 

 this means a few more minutes per package, it brings a more 

 ready sale and is an excellent practice. 



Forwarding. — A postcard should be sent to the buyer or 

 salesman telling him by what route and train the crate will 

 travel, and mentioning by what mark he will be able to identify 

 the crate. 



The crate should travel by an evening train in order to reach 

 the market in the very early morning, and it should be consigned 

 at dealers' rates. In warm weather the birds are less likely to 

 be heated if they travel by night. 



General. — There is a growing demand for goslings weighing 

 from 6 to 8 lb. during the London season — from the middle of 

 May to the end of June. Goslings sold then are off the ground 

 before keep becomes valuable for other farm stock. 



Fowls must not be drawn when sent to the markets, but some 

 buyers prefer them to be " roped/' that is, to have the intestine 



