93 
Increased Consumption in Great Britain. 
considerable inquiry and reflection we have come to the conclusion that the increase of West 
date is largely due to the increased consumption of bacon, cheapened as the latter has been" by 
enormous American importations ; while as to the later and more sudden increase, all our inquiries 
tend to connect much of it with the growth of cycling ! This may seem odd enough as a serious 
cause for marked movement in an article of food ; but when it is considered that the owners of 
cycles of one kind or another in Great Britain are certainly not less than 600,000, and probably 
fai more, and that a rasher of broiled ham with a couple of eggs has come to be considered as quite 
the customary and oithodox ‘ cyclists tea” when he is out for a ride, the connection will appear 
moie cleaily. At all events, it is a fact that the demand for eggs in many country resorts of this 
class of consumeis has come to be very great, and quite beyond local supply, though we have 
personally come acioss instances where innkeepers had started poultry -yards of a score or two 
of hens in order to help to supply it. No doubt this course will gradually be followed by others, 
and there are many signs that egg-production in Great Britain and Ireland is increasing. Quite a 
new tiade has been developed in “ ovifers ’ and other egg-boxes for the transit of small parcels 
diiect to consumers, of which Messrs. Christy & Co. and others make large sales every year. 
Co-operative “stores” also deal almost exclusively in English eggs, arranging for their own direct 
sources of supply; and a practice is also growing up of sending parcels by post, which we have 
traced to some considerable extent. 
The apathy of farmers towards the question of increasing their own egg-production, or making 
more money in any way from increased attention to poultry, is, however, very great. In the 
absence of any reliable statistics, we have made every attempt to collect local information as to 
what was done or might be done in this direction ; and copies of a set of questions likely to elicit 
such information were sent to the secretary of every Farmers’ Club and Chamber of Agriculture in 
the kingdom, and to all others likely to be able to give useful information whose addresses could 
be obtained. Any other details were asked for besides those alluded to in the questions ; and the 
latter were as follows : — 
1. Are there any farmers (or others) in your neighbourhood who are known at present to supply eggs or poultry to either the 
London or other large city markets ? If so, kindly give what figures are possible. 
2. Do they supply through dealers, or is there any direct trade with consumers ? If the latter, to what extent is this known ? 
3. What is the cost in your district of the carriage of eggs to London ? 
4. Are you aware of any preferential charges in favour of the foreign producer in this lespect? 
5. Is there any system in operation in your district for collecting eggs or poultry for maiket ? 
6. Are there in your district any considerable number of small occupiers, whether small farmers, allotment holders, or otherwise, 
who keep poultry, and from whom any considerable produce could be collected by travelling dealers? 
7. Is there any considerable class of this description who, in your opinion, might so keep poultry with advantage, and so 
sell the products to travelling dealers? 
8. Is there any perceptible tendency in your district towards smaller holdings (which might increase the quantity of 
poultry products) ? 
9. Do any of the more substantial tenants in your district keep poultry to any appreciable extent ? (If possible, state heads 
per acre.) 
10. Do you know of any instances in which poultry are regarded as part of the regular live stock of the farm, and their produce 
systematically looked after and marketed ? Details? 
11. Has there been any recent tendency to an increase per acre in this kind of stock ? 
12. Are farmers generally aware that from IO to t S head of poultry pe, acre can be graced on a farm will, out any interference 
at all with other stock in the way of fouling, and with considerable indirect benefit in consumption of insects and ,n animal 
products?^ ^ ^ a(tempt made by f „ me „ ot other poultry producers in your district to obtain a market for " new- 
laid as against market eg & s? „ DO ultry-farming ” in any shape, or in conjunction with fruit ? If so, 
14. Has any attempt ever been made in your locality at poultry larming y v 
on what scale, and with what results ? 
