Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-09
The Poultry and Egg Situation

The Poultry and Egg Situation
The one line Of production in which
Georgia appears to have fallen behind
in 1917 was that of poultry. When the
figures were made up the first Of the
present year il appeared that we hal
smallsr nImb,r of hens on hand than
I'm January. 1917. study of the stu
alton throughout the United States
seemed to Indicate this was a general
rather than a special condition. The
drought in Texas was so severe that
about 1890 hens were shipped ont
OF the state in one month. These hens
were disposed Of because of the inabil-
ity TO obtain grain for their proper nour-
lshment This represented loss. for
instance. of 100000 eggs a month. or
probably 5O.00O.O90 eggs for the laying
season. The food administration has
found il advisable to practically clean
out our cold storage plants of their pre-
vious reserves of chickens and eggs.
Hence in a sense the cupboard is bare
and there is no great reserve of poultry
or eggs on hand at the present moment.
This would seem to indicate that these
products should be in good demand at
relat veiy high prices Certainly, We
need to produce an enormous number o."
chickens and eggs i'm order to restoCS
our cold storage warehouses and provide
an abundance of food for our people.
Ii Is ;Tue that some of the meatless
days have been taken of. This is, how e
ever. Only a temporary arrangement n
5est, and we will, no doubt, be asked
20 conserve meat more vigorously in
the not distant future than in the pas.
The conservation of meat depends on
the production of large quantities Of
dickens and eggs. These provide the
most admirable substitutes for meat and
have enabled the south to make an en-
viable record in the matter of meat con-
servatiOn Chickens can be produced
very cheaply on the average farm be-
-ause they gather a good deal of Their
living without effort on the part of the
owner. Given a little necessary sup
Elemental food and reasonable manage
ment the will produce about twice
IS many eggs as we now obtain. There
is some complaint about the high cost
f poultry food. In a measure it is
well founded. On the other hand, in
The southeastern states we can pro-
duce such variety Of grain and green
feed that We should not find it neces-
Sary TO buy cereals which have to BE
grown IT, other sections of the country
COR the maintenance of poultry. We
cannot expect a hen to work for potk-
irg and provide her own food. \ little
thought ard care in the matter of pro-
yiding what is essential will enable the
land owner to sustain his flock of chick
ems without cost in the matter of pur-
chased Good, and at the same time slim
ulate production and increase the prof
its obtained from this source.
IL will be a great mistake. therefore.
to neglect poultry husbandry this year.
A temporary depression in the price of
eggs may discourage some. but chickens
H. 49, a.
high prices. Eggs will soon increase in
price. Those who do not believe this
Will find it out to their sorrow later on.
Now is the time. therefore, for the city
housewife and the farmer as well to
pack and lay aside a part of the surplus
of the eggs produced. They can be pre-
served and kept in a perfectly whole
some condition for ten or twelve months
at a very little cost. The best method
Of preserving them is through the use
of what is known as water glass, the
scientific name of which is sodium sill
cate. The price will no doubt vary in
different localities. but il can ordinarily
be purchased for about 80 cents A quart.
In this case eggs can be preserved for
about cents a dozen. Remember that
the water glass solution should not be
used a second time. People. who do this
will find that their eggs will not keep
satisfactorily and will be disappointed.
The cost per dozen is so slight that it is
not well to take any chance. The time
to put eggs in water glass is in the early
spring and summer as they are then
most abundant and cheapest. In the
southeastern states it is probably best
to put eggs in water glass during the
months of March, April and May. Eggs
laid later in. the season than this do not
seem to keep so well.
AS to the class of eggs to select for
preservation the following points should
be kept in mind. If satisfactory results
are TO be anticipated, the eggs first of
all must be absolutely fresh and clean.
These points can not be emphasized too
strongly. Any eggs that floats when
placed in the solution is not fresh, and
therefore should be taken out. If the
eggs are slightly soiled a damp cloth
can be used to remove such stains, but
il is not desirable that soiled eggs
should be preserved under any circum-
stances. If placed in the jar when
dirty they will spoil, and it is impor-
tant TO remember that washing removes
the protective coating which prevents
spOiling.
In preparing the water glass solution
for the preservation of eggs, use one
quart Of sodium silicate to nine quarts
OF water The waTter should first be
thoroughly boiled and cooled before
using. Various sorts Of containers may
be used, but probably a five-gallon
crock OF jar VIII be found the most sat
isfactory for the average housewife 20
use. Such a container will be large
enough to hold fifteen dozen of eggs
Additional jars may be filled according
20 the needs of the family. In select
ing a jar be certain that it is free from
cracks or any injury which, though
slight at first, may develop as the
months go by. The jar shoul then be
scalded with boiling water and placed
in the sun to dry. Then put the water
glass in the jar and pour the cold water
In. Remember that one quart of So
dium siIicate or water glass should be
used with exactly nine quarts of wa
ter STIR the mixture gently but thor
Oughly. and proceed to place the eggs
in the solution. III enough eggs are not
available to fill the jar additional ones
may be added from time to time. Leave
at least two inches of the clear LIQUID
as a cover over the eggs at all times.
Place the jar IN cool place. 4 cellar
will answer very we'll for this purpose
OF a springhouse which is dry. They
can often be kept in a suitable excava-
ton under the house They should he
protected from direct heat and light.
HrHH-