Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-02-06

DunglOW, County DOneSal, lFelaHu.-
This is the story of how the Irish hen
scratches living for the people of
Dunglow out Of the desolate bogs and
hillsides OF County Donegal. The hen
could not do it so long as the farmers
failed to market prof1tably 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 a money
maker for her Donegal owner because
cooperative marketing has made eggs
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 a native boy,
Paddy Gallagher. 1t is true that the
soil is so poor and SO thin that
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 plow. 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,
sThe Templecrone Cooperative Agri-
cultural society,"" as it is called, was
formed however there was change
The farmers socn learned that If 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 we're instructed as
to testing eggs and breeding egg lay
ers. They bring in the eggs. The as
sociation 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 poul-
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, 1t 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
from the standpoint of the members,
the price of eggs instead of being
four to six cents below the figures
quoted in the nearest city markets is
now two to four cents higher than
there. 1t is all simple and we see
no reason why the entire plan cannot
be used in any American village and
the results duplicated.
Expert knowledge Necessary.
The association did not rush into
the egg business without preparation
Patrick Gallagher, the manager of the
society, after he had made a begin
ming with the society, felt the need
of more expert knowledge. He went
to the Dunboe Cooperative society
and here he gained thorough knowl-
edge of packing and dealing in eggs