Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-02-23
and shippers, and become dealers in
all kinds of overripe hen fruit.

hen has just as much pride to-day as
, in the days of our forefathers. Wher
we take into consideration the rapid
strides being made in the production
of eggs in Michigan we must admit
that we are not doing our duty or
we would take a stand in behalf OF
the American hen and see that her
product was properly taken care OF
and properly marketed
Let us make it known that we will
grade our eggs before we buy them
and sell them on their merits, and by
so doing gain for ourselves reputa-
ton, and at the same time make il
generally known that Michigan eggs
are worth being sought after. We
must put the price so we can all
make small profit and still do jus
tice 10 the producer, but the quality
must be improved.
You can not mention any commodi-
ty in this great Michigan of ours
that is not bought and sold accord
ing to its quality If you wish to Sc
lect horse, the quality must be good
or you do not want him. But if you
get him on your hands and he is not
good you must be a jockey or you
keep him. We are certainly becom-
ing egg jockeys when we take all
kinds of eggs.
OF course, many Of us handle poul-
try as well as eggs, and to those let
me say, do not buy it in the she'll
This will help some. If you meet
your friends on the street you take
them to some up-to-date thirst en-
porium where you knw the quality
OF the whisky is good, but you go to
the country merchant and buy his
eggs because he says they are good,
and you know what happens.
We are not dealing in watered min
ing stock or in a horse trading game
We are dealing in eggs and our sue.
cess lies in the quality of goods that
we put on the market. The egg bust
ness is legitimate one, and is fast
becoming a leader in this great coun-
try of ours, and we, as leaders, are
responsible for the standing our State
may have before the world in this
industry. Let us place Our shoulder
to the wheel, one and all, so that our
weight may be felt and place our
selves in a position to dictate to
certain extent what the quality of the
goods we handle shall be.
We will undoubtedly be called upon
10 help 10 educate the farmer as to
how he can produce more clean eggs.
This might easily be done. The large
percentage of dirty eggs that are be
ing placed upon the market is alarm
ing and should not be allowed to con-
tinue This all lies with the farmers.
and until they are brought to realize
that their dirty eggs will not bring
them as much as nice clean ones they
will not change their ways. We be-
lieve that this Association should
sound the warning note. Let us be-
gin now TO show our dislike for an
inferior article and our appreciation
for eggs of a good quality. In speak
ing of quality, they must be clean, as
we'll as fresh. In order to produce
clean eggs the farmer must protect
his hens and secure for them respect
able places to lay, so that in wet,
muddy weather the hen is not COM
PEELED to go through a mud hole to
get on the nest, and thus dirty the
eggs that are already in the nest.
If permitted, she will steal her nest
and deposit the valued product on the
ground among foul weeds, which nat
urally stain and destroy the market
value of what she produces. These
are important details and should be
borne in mind by the farmer, but |
fear it will not be attended to unless
we make our wants known and aid,
to some extent, in bringing about the
results.
You may say that this Association
was not created for the purpose of
maintaining a school OF instruction
for the farmer but believe we can
do much good along this line, at 4
slight expense and, if so, we will do
ourselves as much good as any one.
I et us commence at once to sort our
eggs as we buy them and pay for
them according to quality. Soon the.
farmer will think more of us, because
his profit will be increased The coun-
try merchants will think better of us
because we are just. Our families
will think more of us because we are
doing cleaner business. We will
think far more of each other and be
able to extend glad hand because
we have done our duty as men and
American citizens.