Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-08-16
r1ILLiONS LOST
TO PENN'A FAR1ERS

" u LINN - u Ht\I lin
The poultry product puts about
sl5, OOO 600 annually into the pockets
Of Pennsylvania farmers; but when it
is Known that the State of Pennsyl-
vania consumes five times as much
poultry and eggs as it produces, it be
comes necessary for US 10 devote some
time and thought to poultry conditions
and prospects in our Commonwealth -
The above is the opening announce
ment in bulletin just issued by the
State department of agriculture with
a view to stimulating interest in the
poultry business i'll Pennsylvania.
This document, prepared by L. f. Orr,
of Beaver, shows that many millions
of dollars might be added TO the reven-
ues of the farmers of this State through
the production of eggs and poultry.
Six States west of Pennsylvania sur
pass it in the products Of the hen, Ohio
and Iowa leading with $50. 600, 600
worth each Yet Pennsylvania has
more individual land owners than eth
er of these States-almost every plot
being capable of yarding and feeding
few hens
There is a single wholesale grocer
in Pittsburg, says the department
bulletin. "whO handles an average
daily OF 300 cases of eggs of 30 dozen
each. lie pays out for these eggs about
half a million dollars a year. How
many Pennsylvania farmers particip-
ate in this handsome sum of money?
Not one. Every egg that this man
handles comes from Indiana, where
careful buyers gather them from the
farmers. He says: The farmers of
Western Pennsylvania do not produce
enough eggs especially in winter, for
me to bother with. OF course, would
rather buy home eggs, but | must buy
from people who have eggs to sell
The above named egg buyer pays
good prices He handles fresh eggs
only. He has no use for storage eggs
He would pay higher prices if he could
get constant supply of nearby fresh
eggs. From September to March |, a
period OF six months, the wholesale
Pittsburg prices Will average 30 cents
per dozen for strictly first-class eggs.
1t has been demonstrated again
and again that the man who can pro-
duce eggs at all in this district in
these six months does so at a food cost
ot not over 10 cents per dozen. In
what other line of animal industry can
one find larger margin TO pay for the
labor and interest on the cost of in
vestment,
Eastern Pennsylvania demands even
a better quality of poultry and eggs at
still higher prices. The better class
residents of Philadelphia and New
York are each year becoming more
fastidious as TO the quality of the pro-
ducts they consume, and less care
ful as to the prices they pay, pro-
yided the quality is above reproach
Not only in the two cities named, but
in a dozen smaller cities are people
who contract for their eggs SIX months
at 30 cents a dozen and six months at
- cents, just to be sure they get eggs
that are strictly first class.
In every town of 5000 population
or larger are people who would be
glad to pay close to the above named
prices, provided they could be sure of
getting regular supply between Sept
ember and March
Pennsylvania IL furnishing "A con
stantly increasing demand for more
table poultry of first quality. one has
only 10 loiter around some Of our com
mission houses to learn that most of
the dressed poultry consigned will not
rank above third class that first class
poultry sells more rapidly and for
twice as much as poultry that grades
only third class. -
The bulletin states that the greatest
obstacle that now stands in the way
Of profits from poultry on Pennsyl-
yania farms seem TO the writer TO be
properly classified under the following
headings Mixed fiocks, poor houses,
inJudicious feeding and careless mark
eting
The bulletin contains vast amount
of practical information as TO the best
methods Of conducting the poultry
business