The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-10
OVER PRODUCTION
IS I'M P OS SIBL {
Ever-Growing Demand for Pro-
duct of Poultry Yard Makes
1t So.
By WALTER c. scHAAF.


In nearly all beginners minds there
looms up in the distance the bugbear
fear of overproduction. Year after
year 1 hear this same remark from
lots of going to be big producers of
poultry, just starting III. Well, you
see that 1t Is only a matter of a few
years, and the poultry business will
be overdone." 1t requires but few
moments thought to dispel all doubts
as to the future of the industry Even
few years ago production was much
smaller than at the present writing,
the system of marketing and selling
was not SO good. and prices ruled
much lower than they are to-day. The
trend of prices in all poultry products
has been, and Will continue to be slow
~ but shurely upwards, Just rs the
production is growing greater every
year.
This is impossible. you say? Just
think OF the rapid development of our
larger cities during the last few years
But mis- fact does not cover the ma
point. Increase in production and the
growth of competition lead To better
conditions. more up-to-date methods.
cheaper production and higher quality.
The demand, on account OF the last
named feature naturally increases.
The growth in Importance OF the poul-
try business in the last few years has
enabled the farmers to assert them
selves TO greater advantage than they
have been able to do in the past, and
by means OF increased facilities for
gaining knowledge OF their business
they are enabled to produce more
cheaply. as we'll as secure a larger
price.
Years ago our wool. wheat. meat and
fruit were, during. certain seasons,
practically unstable because the
methods of marketing were in their
infant stage. with the consequence
that the producer could only sell
his immediate territory and that ended
it.
With increased production have
come combination and Improvement
all along the line. You car look for
ward with confidence tt the time in
the very near future when poultry
culture will take as proud position
amongst rural pursuits as the produc
ton OF wool. wheat and beef do to-
day. with production increase in quail
itay and quantity at a lesser cost TO
produce.
In the Australian Hen. w. II. Wig
more. an American writer. discusses
this question very ably. He says:
There will never be any danger
from overproduction. as the demand
Will still further increase with the
supply" This has been fully demon
strated in the case of the blackberry.
which formerly found its way to the
market from the roadsides and along
the bitches, as we'll as the fence corn
ers. but which is cultivated so extern
sively now that from one station in
New Jersey alone train of cars leaves
for New York City every day in tho
season. and yet the prices obtained
are higher than when the blackberry
was CLEANED only from the waste
places. And why Is the demand ere :
ated? 1t is to the fact that when arti-
cles reach the markets in large guam
titles the low prices for awhile tempt
buyers, and in the course of time the
article becomes an Indispensable ad-
junct to the regular family supply,
and must afterwards be procured at
any price. In other words. not only
the increased production. but the edu-
cation of the buyers to the article as
a necessity. influences the demand.
while any excess of food in one direc-
ton causes q corresponding aepres.
sion in another, and hence she pur-
chasers Of poultry are taken from the
ranks Of those who use substitutes.
and consequently no overproduction
can occur until an equilibrium in every
article used for food Is reached. which
is nearly impossible.
AS long as there are plenty of poul-
try and eggs in the market, buyers
will have them. and, granting that by
some means there may be an over
production in quantity. there will still
be a great dGnand for quality, and
the poultrymen who markets only
plump, fat chickens and sends only
perfectly fresh eggs to his customers.
will always find himself besieged for
more. although others be begging for
sales. Hence overproduction of good
articles has never occurred.