Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-08-17
millions LOST TO
PENN'A 'A Farmers

1.-THE poultry product puts about
Sl5, 900, 600 annually into the pockets
of Pennsylvania farmers; but when IL
is known that the State OF Pennsyl-
yapia consumes five times as much
I,oultry and eggs rs it produces IL pc
comes necessary for us to 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 Ill the
poultry business in Pennsylvania.
This document, prepared by L. h. 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, ooo, ooo
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 single wholesale grocer
in Pittsburg," says the department
bulletin, "who handles an average
daily of 300 cases of eggs of 30 dozen
each. He pays out for these eggs about
half 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,l would
rather buy home eggs, but l must buy
from people who have eggs to sell.
1.-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 a constant supply of nearby fresh
eggs. From September to March l, 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 food cost
of not over 10 cents per dozen. In
what other line of animal industry can
one find a larger margin to pay for the
labor and interest on the cost of ill.,
vestment2
Eastern Pennsylvania demands even
better quality of poultry and eggs at
till 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
full as to the prices they pay, pro-
yided the quality is above reproach.
Not only in the two cities named, but
in dozen smaller cities are people
who contract for their eggs SIX months
at 80 cents IA dozen and six months at
45 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 is furnishing con-
stantly increasing demand for more
table poultry of first quality. One has
only to loiter around some of our com
mission houses to learn that most OF
the dressed poultry consigned Will no,
rank above third class that first class
poultry sells more rapidly and fol
twice as much as poultry that grades
only third class.
The bulletin states that the Creates
obstacle that now stands in the way
of profits from poultry on Pennsyl
vania farms seem to the writer to b'
properly classified under the following
headings: Mixed fiocks, poor houses
injudicious feeding and careless mark
citing"
The bulletin contains vast amoun
of practical information rs to the bes
methods of conducting the poultr,
business.