P r ices of Home-grown Eggs. 
:oi 
buy of the women, rather than attend the markets, and say that the poor people “ buy better ” than 
they can - The boxes are usually returned to Ireland and used repeatedly. The prices in the 
winter of 1886— 7 were about is. per dozen, and in the spring of 1887 came down to 6d. per dozen, 
while for a little while later on they came down as low as 4s. per 120. These are the prices paid to 
the peasantry in inland districts in the south and west of Ireland. In Ulster, owing to the trade in 
fine table poultry, the eggs also were larger, and prices were higher, being is. 4d. to is. 6d. per dozen 
in winter and no lower than 7d. per dozen in summer. I his seems to show that with “good sort- 
ing the small egg objection might be removed. There are egg merchants in many inland towns 
who ship to England, and few go through Dublin or Belfast except those near there. The 
collectors generally take 4d. per 120 for collecting, but sometimes as little as half that, so that a 
cheaper collecting mechanism is difficult to imagine. Country shopkeepers also often buy eggs, 
and usually give within the same orthodox 4c!. per 120 of what they get for them in turn ; in fact 
it may be affirmed that, were it not for eggs, there would be very little money for the shopkeeper 
in most of the poor country districts in Ireland. 
It will be seen that directly we proceed to consider how far the money paid to foreigners for 
eggs could be retained by home producers, we come face to face with formidable practical diffi- 
culties. Many of the returns already summarised contain pertinent and valuable remarks upon 
this score, the chief of which we will endeavour to extract in course of reference to different 
points as they arise. 
The first question of all is that of prices ; — whether, if British farmers or cottagers did produce 
more eggs, they could get remunerative prices for them. The answer is not so clear as could be 
wished, so far as the general, or what may be called the “ provision or grocer’s shop ” egg-trade is 
concerned. This trade all depends upon a certain price, as we have seen ; and so far as such eggs, 
of fairly good if not first-class quality, satisfy a demand, it will not be replaced by even better 
eggs at appreciably higher prices, but must be met (if at all) on the same level. This is well 
brought out in some remarks appended to his return by Mr. Bernard Wilson, a farmer, who acts 
as agricultural editor to the Norfolk News. He writes : “ It seems to be assumed that although 
we cannot grow wheat at the price the foreigner is content to sell at, we can other articles. I don’t 
see any ground for this supposition. They (the foreigners) are equally content to send us butter, 
cheese, eggs, beef, mutton, as pork and wool — all at prices that leave no room for profit on our 
heavily-burdened land. Because we import flax and linseed, it is said we should grow it instead. 
Why is it assumed that we could grow it at a profit, any more than wheat ? The fact of our 
importing does not prove that the British farmer is neglecting any real opportunity; and the same 
of eggs.” Mr. Christy, who has given great attention to the subject, urges the same view, pointing 
out how profits have been diminished or destroyed in fruit, tomatoes, grapes, and other articles in 
succession, by foreign competition, and asking the very simple question, whether “ British farmers” 
arc to be expected to grow eggs at forty for one shilling, which, at the cheapest time of year, is all 
that reaches the peasantry of Italy and Sweden? This difficulty is only to be met by improved 
methods of collection on the one hand, or by catering foi a higher demand on the othci. 
We have a large amount of evidence showing the ease with which a better market can be 
secured by many producers, if they have the enterpiise and ingenuity to do it. At Bnghton, 
in the winter of 1SS6 — 7, many shops were gladly giving 2s. 6d. per dozen foi new-laid eggs, 
but could not get what they would have taken. ^ We always sold ouis icadily in Bristol at the 
same price years ago, not to private friends, but to a grocers shop ; and most large towns, espe- 
cially London, are in the same position as regards their residential portions. Theie aie abundant 
examples furnished us of how it is possible to secure this kind of market from the country. 
