The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-17
An Immense Egg
farm


MERGED county can boast of the
largest egg farm in the San Joaquin
valley, says the MERGED Star. 1t is a
Croker Estate Company enterprise,
andand was projected and established
by c. H Schmidt, formerly manager
of the Fountain City Creamery 1t is
an infant industry-not quite a year
old-hut it has already attained huge
proportions. The farm is located two
road, and comprises part of a 400
acre tract of sandy land. The Living
ston canal of the Crocker-Huffman
Land and Water Company's system
runs through the tract and near the
buildings.
A year ago The Star printed an arti
Gle giving some account of the project,
but actual operations were not COM
menced until March. The reporter
visited the place few days ago, ami
was quite naturally surprised to see
what has been accomplished in the
past ten months. There have been
about a dozen substantial buildings
erected, most Of which are 25x50 feet.
They are all covered with builders
paper, which makes them warm and
comfortable for the two or three thou
sand feathered inmates that dwell in
most of the buildings. Among the
structures is a tank house and wind
mill, and a gasoline engine is being
installed to pump water from the 100
foot well. One building is a granary,
in which are stored all kinds of grain
house has accommodations for thou
sands of chicks. In one house are
two huge incubators, each having a
capacity for 1000 eggs. Mr.. and Mrs.
Schmidt are residing temporarily in
apartments on the premises. A resi-
dence will be erected this year. The
buildings are conveniently and sys-
tematically arranged-with suitable
distances between. The buildings and
their surroundings are kept scrupul-
ously clean.
Mr.. Schmidt has been giving a great
deal of attention to the egg and pQul-
try business for several years and is
very enthusiastic on the subject.
The egg industry has become one of
the great industries of the United
States, and it is stated by James Will
son, Secretary of Agriculture, that
$500, 0O0, 900 was represented by the
poultry in 1907. The great San Jna-
quin valley has as yet been doing
very little in the poultry line, and it
was looked upon with much interest
that the Crocker-Estate Co. decided to
go into the industry as a commercial
! undertaking. The plant is already
grand success.
The white Ieghorn breed Of fowls are
kept exclusively-and what splendid
| birds-what a magnificent sight to see
| thousands Of those highbred birds
surrounding the neatly kept premises
It was very stormy and cold when the
/ reporter was there. but it seemed not
to affect the chickens. Their comfort
able houses and the excellent care
| given the great flock OF course is an
| important consideration
| - LAOuEdUQ S@ES q A1S AZ tAA@ AASA1AA
season are demanded and 700 are
gathered at present.
The Crocker-Estate Company is 10
be congratulated. The demonstration
OF the fact that the poultry and egg
business can be made successful on a
large scale in this locality means
much to MERGED county, and in fact TO
the entire san Joaquin Valley. The
MERGED Hatchery and Egg Farm is do
ing a beneficent work, as well as large
business
For a long time broad minded men
have been aware that our great ex-
panding fruit industry viii demand
fertilizer. It ia already greatly need
ed for the orchards, and, says Mr..
Schmidt. there is no doubt this will
largely be solved by focks Of chickens
kept in the orchard. The colonist with
ten acres OF fruit trees should at least
have 200 fine chickens, and by a care
full application OF the fertilizer by
fowls in connection with gypsum and
other fertilizers, he will greatly in
crease his fruit<crop. BY very care
full handing Of the chicken fertilizer
100 chickens will fertiIize Eve acres Of
trees.
While the manager is very busy, yet
the public are welcome and extended
every courtesy. Between four and i've