The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-17
PLAN TO REDUCE BIG wAsV
Community Groups Reeommended y
Agricultural Department to IN
crease Quality Of Eggs.

STCSoG Abauty W ~
A cooperative plan to reduce TN
enormous waste now caused BY ~
careless marketing Of eggs is outlinet
in Farmers Bulletin 656. THE Com
munity Egg Circle" which has jus
been published by the United Statei
department of agriculture. It ID estf
mated that under the present hs2haz
ard methods Of gathering and Hootef
ing eggs nearly eight per cent -ihs
country's output is 4 total loss. Since
the annual production Of poultry ant
eggs in the United States Is valued n
more than $500, 200 000--a sum eQua
to the value OF the hay or wheat croI
the importance OF reducing this loss
Is obvious.
The individual farmer too often 70
CARDS his eggs as mere by-product te
which il is hardly worth his while ts
devote himself seriously; in conse
quence he is inclined both to neglect
his poultry and to gather his eggf
whenever he happens to have a spare
moment or two. In consequence the
output of his poultry yard is not only
small to begin with. but large pro
portion of it has begun to spoil before
1t reaches- the hands of the country
merchants They usually buy the eggs
on case count" paying the same price
for good. bad and Indifferent Tbs
large markets. however. do not pay
the same price and reject many alto
gether; in consequence the price pei
egg to the farmer is made sufficiently
low to provide safe margin and tt
cover the loss on eggs of poor quality
These conditions have been SO firm
ly established by long usage that the
individual can do little to alter then
nnaided. Community cooperation
however can quickly raise the stand
ard OF the eggs shipped from any one
neighborhood. and with the standard
the price The fancy trade is quite
willing to pay more for guaranteed
article and the extra cost Of producing
the guaranteed article is more in PAIN
than In cash.
The plan outlined in the bulletin al
ready mentioned calls for the organi
zation of community egg circle
which should include as soon as pos
sible enough members OF warrant ths
employment OF manager. Each mem
Der agrees to gather his eggs daily ant
in hot weather twice day. to keel
them in cold place. and to deliver
none that is more than seven days old
No eggs are to be washed, and thu
male bird is to be kept away from thu
flock except during the mating sea
son.
The manager OF the circle inspects
grades and markets as a whole the de
liyeries the members make to him
Payment is made to the members ir
proportion to the number OF eggs Of
each grade that they deliver and thu
prevailing market prices. less theii
proportion OF the necessary expenses
The bulletin also gives suggestions for
convenient receipt forms which will
enable the members to check up theii
payments with their deliveries.
Such system will enable the circle
to make arrangements for the delivery
of regular supplies to the best anc
most discriminating class OF trade
There is always demand for guaran
teed eggs on the part Of clubs. hotels
restaurants. and even well-to-do pri
vate families, but the individual farm
er rarely has sufficient output to en-
able him to make contract with any
Of these consumers. and the country
merchant has no means to guarantee
to the consumer the eggs that he buys
from individuals over whom he has nc
control. Cooperative marketing also
enables the eggs to be put up in at
tractive cartons. which can be turned
into valuable mediums of adyertisins
and reduce the expense OF shipments
The increased returns. furthermore
will encourage the producer to devote
more time and care to his stock. bet
ter hens will be kept. they will be kept
in better condition. and in consequence
there will be more eggs as well al
| better ones to market