The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-31
By G. R. SMITH

AUtnOr ana tTacI1cal fOuIIrymQn Poultrymen have come to crisis. The world war has turned nearly every busi- ness topsy-turvy. Poultry culture has
 taken it's share of this confusion and
 Encouragement The final upshot Is cer. tain to be good. Thousands have been put out of action; but a realignment of forces is bound to result. When this is done there will be launched the mightiest offensive in the history of the business. This Is said with the utmost confidence after a careful study of conditions The United States department of ag- riculture informs us that the yearly product of poultry and eggs in this country is worth more than $500, ,000, 900. This puts the hen neck to neck with the wheat crop as national food asset. We poultry raisers represent one of the largest and most valuable food-pro- ducing industries of the world. We are here to stay. NECESSITY OF COOPERATION Our crisis is an economic holdup. We were not prepared. Every poultryman was "a law unto himself" We were like atoms unrelated We were crowd instead of an army. No wonder the shock of abnormal conditions could not be sustained. We see 1t now. We must get together. The product of the poultry industry Is peculiar. Corn will keep indefinitely. So will wheat These are not perishable. Eggs are extremely sensitive to their surroundings. They must be handled with great care for they are very breakable. The flimsiest flaw sends the egg to the compost heap. Two days of temperature among the eighties should put ques- ton mark after the quality of any fertile egg. A frosty temperature is equally blighting.
 These facts put a premium onp the right kind of methods for marketing eggs. About 8 per cent of the entire egg outputsof the United States is lost between the henhouse and the consumer. Defective methods in marketing this valuable food product are responsible for this amazing waste.
 Nothing short of cooperative methods of selling can stop the leak. We must get together. Denmark. Australia, Can- ada, and other sections of the world have long since beaten us to this goal But we are on our way That means that something unusual for the poultryman will happen on this continent. We are convinced of the necessity of the CO., operative system.
 MOVEMENT IS ON
 You must have heard of it. mean the 'Community Egg Circle" You will find 1t in many places all over the land. Poultrymen are beginning to take to themselves. the meaning of tho old say Ing: 'In union there Is strength" Wash ington is sending out informing bulletins on the subject So are all of the really worth while sources of poultry infor- nation and inspirations
 411r cL1 %h> trade of marketing eggs in just the right way that very few producers can do their best work alone. A large 'circle'' of them have the advantage of storage, larger shipments. attractive and uniform packages. frequent sales, protection against heat and cold, cash sales at highest prices on account of uniformity in size color of eggs. and reliable market throughout the year.
 Every member of the circle also has the advantage of the advertising cam paign that is conducted under the pow erful auspices of the organization. The higher standards set by such co-opera- tive selling are sure to be of large bene- fit to each member. Better fowls. bet. ter eggs. greater zeal for the business. and larger vision are certain to come to every member of such cooperative combination.
 These things are working out in ac- tual practice. Like other selling associa- tions of like nature these community, state and county organizations for mu- tua. benefit are rapidly lifting the busi- ness of producing and marketing eggs to much higher level of efficiency. The dangers from scheming middlemen are eliminated altogether or reduced to their lowest possible limit The aim Is co- operation in the best and fullest senss of the word.
 This means that there Is close and warm and confidential sympathy all along the line between producer and consumer. It results from the well assured fact that expenses in distri- button are reduced to the minimum, and that the most direct route pos sible Is followed from the hen which laid the egg to the man who eats it. Not least among the advantages of the movement Is the confidence spring ing up in the soul of every member of the association that the best that is possible Is being done for hls busi- ness. which means that still better things will come in the future.
 This confidence Is what is needed in any business above anything else. Suspicion is the death of any rrado. A man must believe that the best is being done for his business or he is pretty certain to get heart failure Cooperative egg selling is producing l this confidence
 A BUSINESS PRINCIPLE
 This principle dominates the world | over. We found at great cost that | competition Is not the life of busi- l ness. It Is often the death of 1t Co- operation is the war cry of every | movement that Is really doing things.