American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-07-27

Boise, Idaho.-Farm Markets Bull
letin. No. 10, by Harvey Alfred, d.
OF the Department Of Farm
Markets, contains the following Of in
terest to the Gem State farmer:
In meeting with the dealers in
poultry products, | find that many To-
at Portland, Seattle, and spo-
kane, make large purchases Of tur-
keys, poultry and eggs in Idaho. and
that prices being paid for Idaho tur-
keys are generally much less than for
Washington or Oregon birds. When
asked for the reasons they had in
paying less for Idaho turkeys, / was
informed that Il was because a large
percentage OF our birds have crooked
breast ones, The growth and condi-
ton OF the Idaho turkey. with this ex-
ception, VAS as good, II not better,
than those grown In Oregon or Wash
ingtOn. But when the turkey with a
crooked breast was placed on the re
tail market, II had to be sold at from
10 to 20 per cent less than birds that
were otherwise In no better condition.
The turkey with a crooked breast
bone cannot be carved nearly so well
and has not the attractive appearance
that the best market demands.
From Information we have at hand.
we estimate that within a seventy-hve
mile radius of Caldwell. there will be
placed on the market this season,
$500, 900 worth OF turkeys, and judg-
ing from past experience, a large per
cent OF these will have crooked breast
bones unless something is done to re
move the cause. This loss to the grow
or Is enormous. For example: On
each turkey Weighing twelve pounds.
commanding. in good condition. a price
OF "A cents per pound dressed, or
S2.SS. il sold at a loss of Is per cent.
would amount to 80 cents on each
turkey. or $4,000 on the turkeys that
viii be placed on the market this year
in the vicinity OF Caldwell alone.
We are informed that the crooked
breast bone is caused by the young
turkeys roosting on a small perch on
which they must rest their breasts to
balance well during the hours of
roOsting, and this could be overcome
by providing a round perch of suf-
hcient size that the easy resting of
the feet with slight natural grip of
the toes when the leg is bent. would
permit the body to balance without
using the breast as a prop. DO not
permit your turkeys TO rOOst on the
ground, but prepare suitable perches
of a medium sized round pole or a
two-by four plank with edge we'll
rounded and smoothed.
We lind that eggs reaching the local
and general market are in "a bad CON
dition, due in many instances to the
lack Of proper gathering and care ON
the part of the grower. Eggs should.
during the warmer weather. be gath
cred at least twice each day, and
then placed in a cool room until they
can be taken TO market. Growers. do
not overlook this. Your carelessness
In this matter is clearly reducing the
price YOU would otherwise obtain for
your eggs.
some growers are placing their
duck and hen eggs together on the
market This will lower your values
because the market for duck eggs is
limited 20 a certain small trade
These eggs weigh much more than
hen eggs do and one dozen duck
eggs In a case is easily detected by
the dealer acquainted with his bust.
ness. and the price offered Is made
less. In fact. one dozen duck eggs
placed in a case with good hen eggs
will reduce the value Of that case
as much as though the duck eggs had
been thrown away and the case con
tanned n dozen less hen eggs. Pacb
your duck eggs separate and sell then
as such They will nearly always fine
a market as everything else will q
sold strictly on It's merits.