St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-02-18

and here he gained thorough knowl-
edge of packing and dealing in eggs
and poultry, and also learned CO
operative bookkeeping and the gen.
eral business methods followed by
that society. Up to this time Mr..
Gallagher had given his services to
the society gratis. He was now en-
ployed at IS cents per day. The so
ciety's eggs were now handled &C
cording to the most improved method,
and a good market found for them, SO
that the society was able to compete
on favorable terms with the local buy
ers. The result was that the price
offered for eggs by the other buyers
throughout the entire district imme-
diately rose and all egg producers
prohted.
The association, after giving careful
consideration of the question of buy
ing eggs by weight, decided to give
it trial, being convinced that it is
not only fair to those bringing in the
larger eggs, but that it is the best,
and in fact the only inducement to
the rearing of an improved breed of
fowl laying the larger eggs. Old Gus
toms die hard, and many of the mem
bers looked askance at the novel meth
Cd of calculating the price of their
goods. But on the whole it has found
favor. There is already a marked i'm
provement in the size of the eggs
throughout the district and there is
every reason to expect that the pro-
duction of larger eggs in the district
may cause eggs to become a much
greater source of income in the future.
The association has also supplied its
poultry station with trap nests, so
that members will be able to procure
the eggs of the best laying strains.
AS an instance of what might be
achieved in this direction, the society
has received this year for 18-pound
eggs the record price of so cents per
dozen. Those eggs were, of course,
picked from among a large quantity
and sold when prices were highest;
still it is a very striking example of
what may be gained by a careful Sc
lection of layers. The fact that the
Templecrone eggs gained third place
at the Sheffield poultry exhibition held
this year, and second place at the
Bristol exhibition, shows that Mr.. Gal
lagher is doing his part in building
up a reputation for them.
Quality the Big Thing.
The fact must not be ignored, how
ever, that the results are obtained not
altogether by good business manage
ment in the marketing. Higher prices
prevail not only because the eggs are
sent promptly to a good market, but
because the eggs are actually the eggs
of the highest possible grade, and are
sorted in such a way as to form an
attractive and profitable article of
commerce for the retail dealer who
purchases from the marketing asso-
citation. In other words it has been
demonstrated that good marketing can
only succeed where the eggs them
selves are good. Quality is of pri-
mary Importance.
The first point to be considered is
the outward appearance of the eggs.
Dirty or cracked eggs are always re-
1ected. Rough shells constitute more
or less of a defect since roughness
may raise the suspicion that the egg
is a picked egg. New laid eggs have
what might be called a rough finished
gloss upon them, which cannot be
duplicated or initiated In any way.
The egg which has once been soiled ia
unmarketable. Any effort to remove
the dirt removes also the gloss and
produces an appearance that is incon-
sistent with the general idea of fresh
ness.
Not only must the egg be of good
appearance, but it must be good
throughout. The testing is by the
now well known system of Gambling
in dark room. 1t is held up against
a powerful light to reveal whether it
Is fresh egg or one in which there
has begun the process of deteriOra-
ton. The cooperative associations,
handling as they do so large a num- /.
Der, generally test their eggs in large
trays, the trays often holding 120 eggs
at time. Dirty eggs, bad eggs, Ques-
donable eggs no longer appear. Be
cause OF care on the farmers part
they are no longer produced. Since
the society buys by weight, which is
after all a far more just measure than
the count, the average egg is gradual
~ growing bigger. II small eggs are
produced they do not reach the mar
ket
Cooperation Helps the Consumer.
1t is OF course conceded that If
there is a big supply of good food.
food will be cheaper than when it is
scarce and more people will be able to
get 1t. If cooperation not only sends
better eggs to the city, but sends them
In double or triple the quantity then
eggs will in the end be plentiful and
cheaper. AS a result the consumer
will profit This is particularly true IL
the eggs are, under cooperation. pro-
duced at less cost and with less waste.
1t will be readily understood that If
the farmer finds that egg producing
is a profitable enterprise the quantity
OF eggs produced viii vastly increase.
Comprehensive figures for Ireland are