The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-04-04
The American Hen Defended.

The American hen is now, paradox
ically speaking, "cock Of the walk. "
She has gallantly broken the interna-
tional record of gallinaceous fecun-
dity. Eggs were never before so
plentiful.
The receipts in this city are much
larger than ever before. During the
last six days 1892 cases, each con-
tanning from thirty to thirty-six dozen
| eggs, have been received. Of these
rs, 1872 cases were received on Monday,
26,745 on Tuesday, 23,988 on Wednes-
day, and 2S,O41 yesterday. Tuesday
was "red-letter" day in the egg trade,
the receipts being the largest ever re-
corded in single day in this city.
The largest daily receipts hitherto re-
corded were on March % and 20 last
year, when 49, TT cases were received.
against 81 1927 last Monday and Tues
day, the excess being 2,15O cases.
From January l, 1894, to yesterday,
inclusive, 504, 200 cases were received
against only 353,281 during the cor
responding period Of last year, being
an increase of 150,919 cases in less
than three months. The total re-
ceipts during last year were 1925, ,9O3
cases, or over 90O,000,0O0 eggs. The
present year is expected to be the
''banner" year, 80 far as receipts in
this line are concerned, and it is esti-
mated that they will considerably ex-
ceed 100000 cases, containing more
than one thousand million eggs.
Eggs are now the cheapest food pro-
duct in the market. Their wholesale
price yesterday was only IL cents a
dozen, and several sales, were made
yesterday for III cents for next
weeks delivery, sellers option. On
the corresponding date of last year
the price was II cents, and four weeks
earlier it was 40 cents dozen. The
stocks of ice house eggs and lined and
picked eggs have been completely ex.
hausted. So many of those eggs had
been eaten up to few days ago that
sensitive palates palled," but now
eager appetites may have toast or ham.
The egg trade last year did not bring
rewards, dealers having stored i'm
mense stocks costing from IA cents a
dozen upward, and being compelled to
sell them, largely to peddlers, at such
ruinously low prices that many hun
dreds of thousands of dollars were
lost. That unfortunate experience
has induced dealers this year to re-
frain from storing their eggs as long
as possible, and this fact, with the
unprecedentedly extensive receipts,
has strong tendency still further to
depress prices.
The American hen has at last
achieved for herself an honored place
in the history of the hens of all ma
tions when it shall come to be written ;
for the impartial historian will surely
see to it that, like Abou Ben Adhem'
name, hers shall lead all the rest.
She has we'll earned the distinction
she now enjoys, and all gallinaceans
should be proud Of the prominence
into which she has brought their re-
spected family. She is both alert and
active. She scarcely waits until the
"early village cock twice doth saluta-
tion to the morn," ere she starts out,
or rather in, with cheerful alacrity for
her days labor, and, when she cackles
forth joyous roundelay, announcing
it's accomplishment, he, 'proud on his
own dunghill," with more pompous
strut and more exultant crow, eggs
her on to essay still greater achieve
ments.
The American hen, however, has one
source of regret from which she may
never be relieved. In laying eggs, as
far as is known up to date, she has
not yet been able, as 'twere, to pro-
duce twins or triplets, but there is no
telling what the hen Of the future may
with persistent industry be able to ac-
complish under more propritious cir
cumstances. Perhaps she oug ht to be
satisfied with herself as it is, for bill
ions of grateful people are deeply in;
debted to single hen, primarily, and
a single egg, secondarily, for having
made possible the discovery of this
vast continent.
The best eggs in this market are re-
ceived, mainly, from Indiana, Iowa,
Missouri and Kansas. They are
known in the trade as Western eggs,
and their highest grades always COM
mand the highest prices, except those
of a limited supply of choice Leghorn
eggs from this State, which are now
selling at from 18 to 20 cents dozen.
A large supply of Southern eggs is re-
ceived, mainly from Virginia, Tennes'
see and North Carolina. They are
smaller, less nutritious than Western
eggs, and are always from to ! cent
a dozen less in price than the latter.
The supply of Long Island eggs is
comparatively Insignificant, and, in
fact, so limited that those eggs exist
rather in fiction than in fact, nearly
all of the so-called "Long Island eggs
being simply choice grades of Western
eggs. There is duty of 5 cents
dozen on Canadian eggs, and very few
are received here. The tariff "tink-
ers'' are ungratefully trying to have
the duty removed, which would be
detrimental to the American hen,
whose industry" though not an in
fant'' one, ought nevertheless to be
protected against the invasion OF her
"Canuck" competitor over the border,
and she herself heartily encouraged to
put forth greater efforts for the home
market.
| The American hen is an honor to the
nation, and the nation ought surely to
edo her reverence"
Duck and goose eggs are scarce and
dear, the former selling at from
thirty-one to thirty-three cents a
dozen, and the latter at from seventy
FIVE to eighty cents. The fayorites
duck eggs come from Maryland, and
the goose eggs are received mainly
from the West. Ducks are deemed
Improbable property. They are raw
enous eaters, and lay during only