The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

the freight charges to an enormous
extent, taken in the aggregate. Old
boxes and barrels were even used, and
the products reached the markets in
the most uninviting manner possible
Locke not only count, but figure in the
monetary returns.
Packing Still Poor.
There are now standard packing pro-
cesses, as far as arrangement and
cases are concerned, and these are
perforce followed. But beyond the
regulations, where the packing is left
to the individual taste and judgment,
the Louisiana producer is still falling
down, and he is still paying the price
for the privilege. The Times-Picayune
man was standing in a Poydras street
establishment when some shipments
arrived. The dealer said that some of
the cases were from this state and
more from the West. The merchant
took chance, without previous in
specti0n. to prove the point. One of
the cases from the West was opened,
and when the top board was torn away
there was a cardboard clear across.
and beneath this was an even layer of
neat excelsior. He said that all the
packing from that section would be
found similar. Then the Louisiana case
was tested. There was no cardboard,
and what there was of excelsior was
not fresh. There was very little Of it,
however, and the rest of the covering
was composed of rags, waste paper
and other motley 1t certainly did not
look attractive, and the infinitesimal
sum saved by the packer was far out
weighed by the difference in price,
even if the eggs were all acceptable.
Eggs absorb odor, and clean packing is
imperative.
There was also a difference in the
weight of the cases. The Western box
tipped the scale at fifty-four pounds,
while Louisiana scored nearly four
pounds less. This was due to the eggs,
for those from the distant section were
larger. The Louisiana egg is equal in
relish, but there is a deficiency of lime,
which makes it smaller and also inter
feres with it's keeping quality. This
status can be corrected, and it is up to
the agricultural scientists to help the
farmer out. The matter is respectfully
referred to the experiment station. It
may already have found the answer,
but the glad tidings have failed to
reach the people whom it would most
benefit.
When it comes to poultry, Louisiana
is still further behind. There is very
little attention paid to the scientific
production of chickens, turkeys and
ducks for the market. There are many
fanciers who have made fine showing
in the breeding of high-class stock, but
that sort of poultry is not for ordinary
use. Still the thoroughbred and the
higher developed fowl has great deal
to do with marketable poultry. Profit
follows improvement of the breed
Texas has learned this first, and New
Orleans is one of her big customers.
Advance there has come through CO.
operation. The merchants there have
done much more for their commune
ties. An instance is told of Texas
merchant who was here when a large
consignment of live chickens arrived
from Iowa. He was struck by the ap
pearance of the cockerels, and arrang
ed to buy the two hundred males in
the shipment. He sent them to his
country customers to be used in better
ing their birds. Returns show that his
investment has paid his vicinity hand
somely.
There has not been sufficient hee(
given to the growing of feed and Other
important phases of producing profit
able stock for market Some favored
spots in the state do send excellent
poultry, but the industry is in it's in
fancy. The best can be produced here
but there is much education to be &C
quired and much effort expended be
fore this branch of agricultural prof
is extensive enough to be entered IL
the ledger of Louisiana's gains.
THAT COOL SPOT.