The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-02-26
Cooperative
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of the cooperative society the loca
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 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 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 poul-
try, and stating where there is likely
to be a 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
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 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
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 rs cents per day. The So
cietys eggs were now handled ac-
cofding 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
the entire district imme-
diately rose and all egg producers
profited
The association, after giving careful
Of the question of buy
ng eggs by weight, decided to give
t trial, being convinced that it is
lot only fair to those bringing in the
anger eggs, but that it is the best,
md in fact the only inducement to
he rearing of an improved breed Of
owl laying the larger eggs. Old Gus
oms die hard, and many of the men,
Iers looked askance at the novel meth
ID of calculating the price of their
,oods. But on the whole it has found
avor There is already a marked i'm
in the size of the eggs
throughout the district and there is
very reason to expect that the pro-
uction of larger eggs in the district
nay cause eggs to become a much
reater source of income in the future.
he association has also supplied its
oultry station with trap nests, so
hat members will be able to procure
ne eggs Of the best laying strains. {
s an instance of what might be
chieved in this direction, the society !
as received this year for 1S-pound
ggs the record price of so cents per {
oxen. Those eggs were, of course,
licked from among large quantity t
I'D sold when prices were highest; S
i'll it is very striking example Of '
hat may be gained by careful Sc 7
ction of layers. The fact that the I
eggs gained third place l
the Sheffield poultry exhibition held 4
is year. and second place at the
ristol exhibition, shows that Mr.. Gal
CHER is doing his part in building
} a reputation for them. :,
Quality the Big Thing. u
The fact must not be ignored, how o
er, that the results are obtained not B
together by good business manage N
ent in the marketing. Higher prices II
evail not only because the eggs are 81
Mt promptly to good market, but fe
cause the eggs are actually the eggs CT
the highest possible grade, and are in
rted in such a way as to form an N