The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-06-19

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
A community egg circle is really a
modern revision Of the old-fashiOned
knitting bee or spelling school. with
the exception that it aims toward
financial profit rather than social
benefit for its members. The annual
egg crop of Uncle Sam amounts to APP
proximately S700,0OO,00O in value.
Largely because of improper handling
and inferior methods of marketing
there is an annual loss of approximate
ly 8 per cent of the eggs marketed
sMany farmers look upon eggs as a
by-product, and the returns as so much
clear gain. Their hens forage for a
living, eggs are gathered when con-
venient and stored almost anywhere.
With such carelessness and a combi-
nation of mongrel stock, dirty nests.
stolen nests of broody hens, unconfined
males, late maturing pullets, and other
undesirable conditions, is it any won
der that the ultimate product includes
a high percentage of small, cracked,
dirty, stale, heated, and even rotten
eggs?
Occasionally the accumulations of
country eggs are taken to the cross
roads merchant and exchanged for
merchandise. The merchant usually
buys these eggs lease count" paying
the same price for all kinds and sizes,
provided they have unbroken shells.
Small production results in small or
infrequent shipments.
How to Prevent Losses.
How can these losses be prevented?
BY selecting pure breeds that lay more
or larger eggs, such as the White Leg
horn. the Wyandottes, Plymouth
Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, or Orping-
tons; by giving better care, food, and
shelter to the flock and providing dry,
clean, vermin-proof nests by combining
males except during the breeding
season; by collecting eggs frequently,
especially during hot or muggy wealth
err; by storing eggs in a dry, clean,
cool place; by using the small and
otherwise unmarketable eggs on the
home table; by marketing frequently,
with protection at all times from heat ;
by selling for cash on basis of size
and quality, "loss off, instead Of lease
count" by using an attractive pack
age, and by combining shipments as
q measure Of economy. BY uniting
several egg producers in an associa-
ton or egg circle more can be ac-
cOmplished in these essentials.
One successful egg association has
q large incubator house of $4,000 eggs
capacity, where carly chicks are pro-
duced for the members at low cost.
This is done In order to obtain early
maturing pullets, thus securing eggs
during the fall, when the supply Is
usually scant. The association also
has a receiving room for eggs where
they are candled, sorted to- weight
(about "a ounces to the dOzen), packed
in cartons and shipped on contract
orders. All eggs are guaranteed to
be according to grade. The association
advertises the fancy grades on their
cartons and cases and market prices
are paid to the members. Twice year
dividends are paid each member In
proportion to the amount of eggs mar
keted through the association and the
time of year the eggs were brought
in, a larger dividend being paid q
dozen for eggs marketed In the fall
and winter than for those delivered
In the spring and summer. A regular
trade Is established with discriminate
ing customers, with city clubs, with
the best class of hotels and restau-
rants and with fancy grocers for
supply each day or week. The rep
uation thus established enabled this
association to obtain price several
cents a dozen above the regular mar
ket quotations, as fancy trade Is Will
ing to pay premium for guaran-
teed article. Most egg circles also CO.
operate In buying their chicken feed
and other poultry supplies.
Fancy Package Attracts Public.
All food products should be deliv-
cred in clean, attractive packages.
Some Of the most successful egg ship
pers have discarded the dirty wooden
case and are using a heavy fiber-board
case, which will held from ID to 30
pasteboard cartons. Each carton has
compartments for II eggs. Upon both
the cartons and the case can be print
ed such advertising as may be wished.
This style of package Is especially de-
sirable for the fancy retail grocer who
can have his firm name included in
the advertising. The fiber-board case
Is not expensive, forms good protec-
ton for the eggs In shipping, and Is