The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-01-30

Dunglow. County Donegal, Ireland
This is the story of how the Irish hen
scratches a living for the people of
Dunglow out of the desolate boys and
hillsides Of County Donegal. The hen
could not do it so long as the farmers
failed to market profitably the eggs
she laid. She could not do it In
America where the men who market
the eggs get more of the selling price
than does the farmer who owns the
hens. The Donegal hen is money
maker for her Donegal owner because
cooperative marketing has made eggs
q profitable produce for the farmer.
Hens to the Rescue.
Throughout the more fertile parts Of
Ireland the American party continual
ly saw evidences that cooperation
played an important part in making
possible the prosperity that was every
where apparent. 1t was several times
mentioned to us, however, that if we
wanted to see what cooperation would
do under most adverse conditions we
must go to Dunglow, in County Done
gal. So to Dunglow we came. The
adverse conditions are here, yet the
people are neither ragged nor starved
The children are as happy as Ameri-
can children and the first little girl
that we saw in the community had a
store doll in her arms. That means
money from some source, for toys wait
for the necessities of life. Inquiry
soon revealed that the first source Of
income which is depended upon is the
sale Of eggs through the cooperative
society conducted by native boy,
Paddy Gallagher. 1t is true that the
soil is so poor and so thin that a
living can not be dug from it. But
the Industrious hens are busily
scratching away where the soil is too
thin for hoe or spade or pillow. For
merly no farm product brought good
prices and prior to the organization
Of the cooperative society the local
price for eggs was four to six cents
less than the price quoted upon the
nearest market at Strabone or Derry.
Generally, too, this price was paid in
trade at the store and there was never
any certainty that the merchandise
delivered was worth the prices
charged. Egg raising was not profit
able and the few eggs produced were
merely an incidental by-product
When the cooperative organization,
"The Templecrone Cooperative Agri.
cultural society,"" as it is called, was
formed, however, there was a change.
The farmers soon learned that il they
furnished good eggs they got good
prices. They were told how to pick
out good layers; how to keep the eggs
fresh and clean; how often to gather
them; how frequently to bring them
to market They were instructed as
to testing eggs and breeding egg lay-
ers. They bring in the eggs. The as
ISOLATION does the rest.
Good Business Methods.
This is how they do it: Each week
the agricultural Wholesale society at
Dublin sends to the local manager a
forecast giving the figures that will be
obtainable for eggs, butter, and pouI-
try, and stating where there is likely
to be demand for eggs.
Each day. on the other hand, the
manager writes to the wholesale SO
ciety telling Just what he has on hand
and what the prospects are for the
next few days Sometimes they use
the telegraph Then every few DAYS
the Wholesale society writes or tele-
graphs definite directions as to where
and when the eggs must be sent. The
eggs, however, It should be noted,
are not sent to Dublin. but are sent
directly to the place where they are
to be eaten. There is no complicated
machinery. no red tape, no delay, no
waste. no bad eggs and. best Of all
ncm the standpoint of the members.