The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-06
EGG VALUES VARY
Should Be Sold on Quality
Basis Like Cigars.
Professor LippincOtt Tells Mis-
souri, Agricultural College.

Columbia. Mo, Jan. eggs vary
in value just as does coffee, calico and
cigars and should be sold upon the ba-
sis of quality rather than at a flat"
price. according to w. A. Lippincott,
professor of poultry husbandry at the
Kansas State Agricultural college. who
spoke before the college of agriculture
of the University of Missouri here to-
day.
Professor Lippincott pointed out
that the farmer who smokes pays five
or ten cents for cigar, according to
it's quality. and that coffee, calico and
canned goods consumed on the farm,
come in different grades and at differ
ent prices Consequently. he urged
the American farmer may do himself
a great service by disposing of his own
products in the same way.
Some one has said that the farmer
makes the business mistake of buying
the most of his purchases at retail
while selling his own products at
Wholesale" he said. TT is equally
true that he buys most of his goods
on a graded basis, and yet sells most
of his products. as he does his eggs.
on a flat price or average price
basis.
1T makes a difference to the feeder
who sends his steers into Kansas City
whether or not those steers are really
finished, not only because the fat steer
weighs more. but because he brings a
higher price per pound as we'll Near
ly every feeder has an ambition TO top
the market. The result is that we
have beef of very fine quality. There
is no reason why every farmers wife
who takes eggs to town on Saturday,
when she does her trading. should not
be ambitious to top the market with
her product"
Improve Egg Quality.
Tne+ice doua he tbri ~
farmer by the quality payment plan
for eggs. Professor Lippincott con-
/ tended, but he also pointed out that
"at the same time it is recognized
there must be reimbursement in the
trade when it is brought in
The groceryman and the general
merchant cannot well purchase eggs
on a quality basis under present con-
Gitions because it does not fit in with
his other business" he said.
Improvement of the quality of eggs
themselves is necessary, he asserted
and as u means to this end he urged
the use of males from high laying
strain of one standard breed; the sale
/ of eggs only to a buyer who candles
and grades and is willing TO pay more
for ''firsts' than seconds and the
| keeping of the male birds from the
/ laying flock except during the breed
| ing season. Necessary also. he said
are roOmy. clean nests, frequent gath
ering of eggs and the Immediate use
of small. dirty or cracked eggs.
Professor Lippincott asserted that a:
! q step toward the general end which
! he urged the loss off method Of
/ purchasing eggs is coming into larger
Use in the middle west. By this meth
Cd eggs unfit for food are discarded
and are not paid for. Formerly. he
said. eggs have been bought upon (
ease count basis for a quoted price
without reference to quality or condi
ton.
THE value of the annual egg croI
/ of Missouri, according to dependable
/ statistics, furnished by the state bu
reau of labor statistics, is more thar
$50, 900. 900" Professor Lippincot
concluded. TT is disposed of in thre,
ways. About 35 per cent of it is con
sumed by the producers and thei
l families. Probably not over per cen
is marketed as a speciality while tn
remaining CO per cent finds its wa.
into the regular channels of trade as ,
| staple product"