The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-03-06

not exceed $25. With the breaking out
OF what Is known as the ''chicken fever
this department began TO grow, until
the value Of the poultry annually ex-
hibited at our county fairs can be rec
oned by thousands OF dollars; and there
is an urgent demand for the erection
Of separate and distinct building for
its accommodation,
Some idea of the demand for eggs
may be had when IL is known that the
money value OF eggs received in New
York during the year 1870 was q little
more than SS, 100000. This amount
only embraces the receipts through the
regular channels of trade, the commits
sion houses and jobbers, the vast num-
ber OF eggs which find their way TO the
consumers through other channels not
being reported or taken into the ac-
count. When il is remembered that
these figures are only those Of one city,
and that there are very many other
large cities wherein large quantities of
eggs find market. the mind can have
some faint idea OF the magnitude of
this business and it's importance TO the
country. To bring the matter nearer
home: During the year 1876 Mr.. Ar
cher bought l30, Ais dozen Of eggs, for
which he paid Sl9, $40 64-an average
Of about fifteen cents per dozen; Mr..
Samm bought 81 ,553 dozen eggs, for
which be paid S7,7I2 23--an average
OF little more than thirteen cents per
dozen. 1t is but justice to Mr.. Samm
to say that he did not begin to buy
largely until quite late in the season,
and when the tsupply was abundant.
From the produce store OF Mr.. john
son, represented here by j. ID. Pri-
deaux, / was able to obtain the trans
actions for only the past Ave months,
which is about one-third OF the years
business. During that time ho has
bought and shipped $4,000 dozen Of
eggs, at an average cest of fifteen cents
per dozen, making $3.50 Taking
these figures as basis of the years
transactions, the amount paid out dur
ing the year at that store has been $40
250-making grand total OF s47,s72-
81 paid out by the three houses men,
toned for eggs alone during 1876. Add
TO this the amount paid out for eggs
by the retail dealers and grocers to
supply their trade, and the amount
paid out at all the other villages in the
county, and the magnitude Of the egg
trade is at once apparent. 1t cannot
be that less than S75, 900 is annually
used in the county in that line alone,
and am not at all sure but that IL
would reach near 100, 900 every year.
The item of dressed poultry is anoth-
er source of profit to the farmer. A
chicken grows from the egg to the ket-
tie in single season, and gives quick
returns for the care and food expend-
ed. During the poultry season Mr.,
Archer bought and shipped A ,565 lbs.
OF poultry, at a cost OF 81, ,925 25, lit
tie above eight cents per pound. Dur
ing the week before Thanksgiving
there was shipped by the American ex-
press company from this city 26, 500
pounds of poultry. which at eight cts.
per pound-the average price paid
makes the sum OF s2,l20 paid out in
this city in a single week for poultry
alone, aud The demand was not fully
met nor the market glutted.
The cost OF keeping a hen here in
the city, where all the food she eats
has to be bought in the markets, is
about one dollar year. In return we
get on an average $50 eggs, which at
Is cts. per doz. gives profit Of sigl IT,
seven aud one-half cents on each hen,
and the chicks we may raise for our
trouble. In the country, on the
farm, where the conditions for keeping
fowls are more favorable, the cost Of
keeping should be less, and conse-
quently the profits greater.
The farmers are, and must continue
TO be, the chief poultry raisers Of the
country, and by them must this great
and growing demand for poultry and
eggs he supplied. The food supplies
OF our country are gradually but surely
growing dearer. Poultry can be raised
quicker and cheaper than beef. There
is less outlay OF Sme and money. and
quicker returns. 1t is quite as whole
some and nutritious, and will never 60
begging for a market 80 long as beef
steaks and muI'.uu-"h .ps remain at
present prices. II th,. rrices are mod
eratsly reduced the poorer classes can
afford to buy and consume more poul-
try, thus increasing the market, and il
the price falls sufficiently, the farm
mer's own table may be moro fire.
quently graced with the products OF
his poultry-yard without detriment to
| b,p.aalf or fapaily