Show COMMUNITY EGG stacle it is estimated that under the gathering and marketing eggs present presen t hap haphazard hazara methods method of nearly 8 per cent of the coun arys output is a total loss since the annual production of poultry and egglin eggs in the united states is valued at more than a sum equal to t the he value of the hay or wheat crop the importance of reducing this loss is obvious the individual farmer fanner too often regards his eggs as a mere byproduct by product to which it is hardly worth hs his while to devote him self seriously in consequence he is inclined both to neglect his poultry and to gather his eggs whenever he happens to have a spare moment or two in consequence the output of his poultry yard ora rd is not only small to begin with but a large proportion of it has begun to spoil before it reaches the hands of the country merchants they usually buy the beggs on 41 case count paying the pame price for good bad and in indifferent the large markets however do not pay the same price a and nd reject many altogether in in consequence the price per fagg to the fanner is made sufficiently low to provide a safe margin and to cover the loss on oil eggs of poor quality these conditions have been so firmly established by long usage that the individual can do little to alter them unaided community operation cooperation co however can quickly raise the standard of the eggs shipped from any one neighborhood and with the standard the price the fancy trade is quite willing to pay more for a guaranteed article and the extra cost of producing the guaranteed article is more in pains t than in cash the plan outlined calls for the organization of a community egg circle which should include as soon as possible enough members to warrant the employment of a manager each member agrees to gather his eggs daily and in hot weather twice a day to keep them in a cold place and to deliver none that is more than seven days old no eggs are to be washed and the male bird is to be kept away from the flock except during the mating season the manager of the circle inspects grades and markets as a whole the deliveries the members make to him payment is made to the members in proportion to the number of eggs of each grade that they deliver and the prevailing market prices less their proportion of the necessary expenses the bulletin also gives suggestions for convenient receipt forms which will en gible the members to check up their payments with their deliveries li such a system will enable the circle to make arrangements for the delivery of regular supplies to the best and most discriminating class of trade the there re is always a demand for guaranteed eggs on the part of clubs hotels restaurants and even well to do private families but the individual farmer rarely has a sufficient output to enable him to make a contract with any of these consumers and the country merchant has no means to guarantee to the consumer the eggs that he buys from individuals over w whom hom he has no control coop co op marketing also enables the eggs to be put up in attractive cartons which can be turned into valuable mediums of advertising and reduces the expense of shipments the increased returns furthermore will encourage enc 0 ur the producer to devote more I 1 time and care to his stock better hens will be kept they will be kept in better condition and in consequence there will be more eggs as well as better ones ones to market I 1 |