The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-03

used to save meat. The eggs stored
In 1917 will be used, not wasted. The
industry has taken heavy losses. but
is still in a position to handle the crop
OF 1918 The administration has be-
fore 1t the difficulties met in dispos-
ing of the 1917 crop and will endeavor
to eliminate them in the handling Of
the 1918 crop.
Poultry Crop Of 1917.
The poultry crop Of 1917 was some
what short. due TO a cold and wet
spring at a time when tho young birds
were IN their infancy. It IL not pos
sible to determine the exact shortage;
owing to large crops Of cereals pro-
duced In the central west the birds
were allowed to grow larger before
selling than in previous years, and
owing to the high price Of other meats.
consumption has been very much
greater by the producers and in coun-
try towns than in previous years. with
the result that receipts in the market
have been somewhat less than during
llsi6, and the quantity that has been
placed In cold storage also less.
There is usually stored in this coun-
try .approximately 100,000.000 pounds OF
poultry to tide over from season OF
heavy production to season Of light or
non. production. and in ordinary years
this poultry Is consumed before the
new crop comes In.
Unload by March I.
When the food administration was
organized and took an account OF stor-
age holdings, 1t was found that about
rs to 30 per cent of the crop Of 1915
was still in storage. the owners claim
ing that their inability to sell II was
due to the high cost and to the fact
that tho public did not consume as
large a quantity of poultry as in pre-
vious years. The problem has been
to set this poultry Into consumption
and replace It with fresh or 1917 poul-
try. The legal department declared 1t
Illegal to carry the 1916 poultry over
into this years productive season.
The trade has been given until March
/. 1913, to dispose of this stock.
OF the total amount of 1916 poultry
approximately 100000 pounds were
turkeys which was ample for the
Thanksgiving trade. As a conserva-
tive measure. dealers in Texas were
requested to refrain from dressing and
shipping turkeys during November. be-
cause Of im.naturity and to discourage
the dressing OF immature birds in
other states.
Alfred Atkinson. federal food admin
istrat0r in Montana. has been asked to
keep IN touch with poultry and egg
producers. commentators. shippers and
middiemen in each state. to encour-
age the agencies which are stimulat-
ing production and to prevent waste
of all kinds. The waste from decay
of eggs and poultry is probably greater
than that of any other perishable.
Remember. says word from Washing
ton. that there are as many eggs
wasted as go into cold storage.
States to Co operate.
The department of agriculture has
done most useful work in education
exhibition cards and publicity matter
In tho matter Of reducing wastehil
practices, but owing to the high value
VI tte PfouuCt. the money LOSSES GHT-
Ing 1917 would probably approximate
those OF 1914. when 1t was estimated
that this waste amounted to $4,000, 600.
Following are the requests made OF
the state administrators
To keep in close touch with Inc
poultry and egg markets of each state
| and when conditions are such as to
have a national significance, notify the
| national administration.
To keep in close touch with the pou-
try and egg markets and keep the
spread of prices between producers and
| consumers as small as is consistent
| with the maintenance Of the necessary
number of middlemen to distribute
the crop.
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