Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Co-Operative Farm Products Marketing Ilow It Is Done in Europe and May lie Done in America to the Profit of Both Farmer and Consumer Hy MATIIF.W S. DUDGEON 2 (CppyrlgUt, * >914. Wwmtrn Nt>w?i>;ii?<r Union.) - V v ? ' THE HEN TO THE RESCUE. ,/ tut ''*% Jam r *??''? ftrtiiii .' '.V'Xf -W | ?-*??? |t < ? : <, 'f-.ww \ J iy** ? inn* " . f-'.tt %i} ;?% ttUxtf*! ' ?> .*!?*?:# y.r.-y ?>". ?/, \ ifc<v- ' f'At' . ; . * v. :* 1 ? Where the Members Bring Their Co-operative Eggs. 2 ? Guaranteed New Laid Irish Eggs Selected. Dunglow, County Donegal, I rcluud. ? This 1h I ho Htory of how the Irish lion scratches a living for the people of Dunglow out of tho desolate bogH and hillsides of County Donegal. The hen could not do it ho long as the farmers failed to market, profitably the eggs she in id Hho could not do it in America where the men who market tin) eg,;s gel more of the Helling price than does the farmer who owns the hens. The Donegal hen is a money maker for her Donegal owner because cwOin.i all vo marketing has made eggs a pioliiable produce lor the farmer. Hens to the Rcscue. Throughout the more fertile parts of Ireland the American party continual ly saw evidences that co-operation played, an important part in making . the prosperity that was every-' Viicrt1 apparent.- It was several times int-ni i?'tied to us. however, that if we want'-'l to. see what co-operation would do under most adverse conditions wo i must go to Dunglow. in County Done- i gal. to Dunglow we, came. The adverso conditions are liere, yet the people are neither ragged nor starved. ! The children are as happy as Amepi- ; can children and Jhe ficst litths glfl I that we saw in the 'community 1 had a| store doll in her arms. That means t money from some source, for toys wait i for the necessities of life. Inquiry j soon revealed that the lirst source of 1 income which is depended upon 1h the J sale of eggs through the co-operative j society conducted by n native boy. j Paddy Callagher It is true that the j soil is so poor and so thin that a living can not be dug from it. Hut j the industrious hens are busily s< latching away where the soil Is too ' thin for hoe or spade or plow. l?'or m??rlv no farm product brought good prices and prior to the organization of t h ? ? eo-op 'iati vo society the. local price for eggs was four to six cents li.iti !. tn the price quoted upon the nearest market at Strabone or Deny. Ge.iei.tily. too, this price was paid in trade at the store and there was never any certainty that the merchandise deli vp r*jd was worth the prices c.?,..r,.( j Fgg ?rai.utig was not profit able and the few eggs 'produced were mpH\ an Incidental by-product. When the cooperative organization, "The Templerrone Co-operative Agri cultural society," as it is called, was f ui tacvi, however, there was a change. Th ? ft.mers noon learned that if they furnished good eggs they got good pr". They were told how to pick out good layers; how to keep the egj,s fresh and clean, how often, to gather th< m; how frequently to brin^ them to market. They were instructed as to testing cgg.T and breeding egg !av ers. They bring in the eggs. The as sociation does the rest. Good Business Methods. This is how they do It: Each week tho agricultural wholesale society at Dublin sends to the local manager a forecast giving the figures that will be obtainable for eggs, butter, and poul try. and stating where there Is likely to be a demand for ^ggs. Each day, on the other hand, the manager writes to the wholesale so ciety telling just what he has on hand and what tho prospects are for tin next few day* Sometimes they u.-e tho telegraph Then every few da> ? the wholesale society writes or \.ele graphs definite directions as to wher^ and wiiun the eggs must be sent Th> eegs however, it vhould be noted, are r"t sent to Dublin, but are sent directly to the place where they are to be eaten. Thero is no complicated machinery, no red tape, no delay, no Vnrte. no lmd eggs and, best of all i_r from the standpoint of the members, the price of eggs instead of being four to six cents below the figures quoted In the nearest city markets is now two to four cents higher than there. It is all simple and wo see no reason why the entire plan cannot bo used In any American village and the results duplicated. Expert Knowledge Nece66ary. The association did not rush into the eg g business without preparation. Patrick Gallagher, the manager of the society, after he had made a begin ning with the society, felt the need of more expert knowledge. He went to the iHmboe Cooperative society and here he gained a thorough knowl edge of packing and dealing in eggs and poultry, and also * learned co operative bookkeeping and the gen eral- business methods followed by that society. Up to this timo Mr. Gallagher had given his services to the society gratis, lit? ?was now em ployed at 7f> cents pcfti, day. The so ciety's eggs xwefo#>4wbw handled ac* cording to the h&'y> >> 'd: m e t \W(i ^ and a good 'm&rket foAiItd for tljepj^'pv offered for eggWb^ .tlte other buyer^J throughout the entire district imme diately rose and all egg producers profited. The association, after giving careful consideration of the question of buy ing eggs by weight; decided to give it a trial, being convinced that it is not only fair to those bringing in the larger eggs, but that it is the best, and in fact the only inducement to the rearing of an improved breed of fowl laying the larger eggs. Old cus toms die hard, and many of the mem beis looked askance at the novel meth od of calculating the price of their goods. Hut on the whole it lias found favor. There Is already a marked im provement in the size of the eggs throughout tlio district and there is every reason to expect that the pro duction of larger eggs in the district may cause eggs to become a much greater source of income in the future. The association has also supplied its poultry station with trap nests, so i hat members will be able to procure the eggs of the best laying strains. As an instaneo of what might be achieved in this direction, the socioty has received this year for 18-pound eggs the record price of C>0 cents per dozen Thoso eggs were, of course, picked from among a large quantity and sold when prices were highest; still it is a very striking example of what may be gained by a careful se lection of layers. The fact that the Templecrone eggs gained third place at the Sheffield poultry exhibition held thin year and second place at the Hristol exhibition, shows that Mr. Gal lagher is doing his part in building up a reputation for them. Quality the Big Thing. The fact must not be ignored, how ever, that the results are obtained not altogether by good business manage ment in the marketing. Higher prices prevail not only because the eggs are sent promptly to a good market, but hecauso the eggs are actually the eggs of the highest possible grade, and are sorted in such a way as io form an attractive and p'ofitabie article of commerce for the retail dealer who purchases from the marketing asso ciation. In other words it has been demonstrated that good marketing can only succeed where the eggs them selves are Kood. Quality la of pri mary importance. The first point to be considered 1a the outward appearance of the eggs. Dirty or cracked *re always r* Jocted Hough sheila constitute more or less of a defect aluce roughueas u?ay raise the suspicion (bat the egg la a pickled egg New laid eggs have what might be called a rough finished gloss upon them, which cannot be duplicated or Imitated iu any way. The egg which has once been polled is unmarketable. Any effort to remove the dirt removes also the gloss and produces an appearance that Is Incon sistent with the general Idea of fresh ness. Not only must the egg be of a good appearance, but it mun,t be good throughout. The testing is by the now well knoyn system of candling )n a dark room- -It is held up against a powerful light to reveal whether it. is a fresh egg or one In which there has begun the process of deteriora tion. The co-operative associations, handling an they do so large a num ber, generally test their eggs in large trays, tho trays often holding 120 eggs at a time. Dirty eggs, bad eggs, ques tionable eggs no longer appear, lie cause of care on tho farmer's part they are no longer produced. Sinco the society buys by weight, which Is after all a far more just measure than the count, tho average egg is gradual ly growing bigger. If small eggs are produced they do not reach tho mar ket. Co-operation Helps the Consumer. H is of course conceded that if there Is a big supply of good food, food will bo cheaper than wh$n It Is scarce and more people will be able to get it. If co-operation not only sends better eggs to tho city, but sends them in double or triple the quantity then eggs will in tho end be plentiful und cheaper. As a result the consumer \yill profit. This is particularly true if fhe eggs are, under co-operation, pro duced at less cost and with less ^vaste. It will bo readily understood that If tho farmer finds that egg producing is a profitable enterprise the quantity of eggs produced will vastly increase. Comprehensive figures for Iroland aro difficult to obtain, but this has proved true in Denmark. In 1895, according to official figures, there was exporled from Denmark something less than* $2,000,000 worth of eggs. Fourteen years later, when co-operative market ing had demonstrated the profit that was in the business, there was ex ported in one year nearly $7,000,000 worth of eggs. Wolf states that while in 1893 the number of hens kept in Denmark was about 6,900,000* in 1911 tho figure had reached the 12,000.000 mark. It is significant that while the number of hens had only a little moro than doubled, tho value of the yield had become nearly four-fold. This was largely the result of tho fact that tho Improved conditions under which poultry was kept had greatly improved the laying ability of each hen. Tho same sort of thing is occurring every where in Continental Europe. In Cor many, in Franco, in Belgium, in Italy, co-operative societies have undertaken the marketing of eggs with great profit to the farmer and with consid erable satisfaction to the consumer, j Democratic Management. All the offices of the concern are in 4the handsvof officers elected by the mem,bers^l|^ a^uost democratic or ng'A n'i t i oj5^<3wEftgr y man has one vote, 'Tttt lUatf^h^f^TO^wr^The member -who mfcHttitS -eggs pTo^uced by a dQzen hert'a has as many votes as he who 'otvars a Hthousand layers. In Dunglow, and elsewhere as well, they consider this "one man one vote" plan essen tial. "The man should vote," they say, "not his money." They pay a good price in cash for the eggs. And when the annual set tlement comes there is always a divi dend to investors. But those who have invested their money, much or little, get only live per cent. No so ciety under the supervision of the Irish Agricultural Organization society is permitted ,to. pay dividends upon shares in excess of that percentage. What is left is distributed to the mem bers in proportion to the amount of eggs they have marketed through the co-operative society. It goes as an additional price paid for eggs. These two principles are considered fundamental and essential; first, one man one vote; second, all profits in excess of a small dividend to investors must go to those who contributed to the profits by furnishing the .product., Why Not In America? Why hasn't this sort of thing been done in America? It isn't because the American farmer and his wife do not need the money. They do. It isn't because there is no demand for good eggs. Eggs were never so nruch in demand and buyers are more par ticular than over about quality. The strictly fresh eggs And buyers every where. The fact is there is no good reason why American farmers should not do business as intelligently as Irishmen. Some of them do, but not many. It takes no capital and can be dono on a small scale. Interview With Dr. McCarthy. Dr Charles McCarthy, who is look Ink over tho Dunglow co-operativo sit uation, has studied co-operation not only In Ireland, but in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and elsewhere. No ono knows bettor than ho condi tions abroad and at home. He under stands American rural conditions as few understand them. In his opinion j co-operative organizations tlut exist | In rhinplow will do Just as w ell In Massachusetts or Minnesota as they do In Ireland One thing, however, the farmer must learn and must learn thoroughly. That is. that simple co- ' .operation will not make over a had . business man into a good business i man nor will It make egg packing or j iny other farm Industry profitable. ' Along with co-operation must come (?ood business methods, good book keeping, good salesmanship, careful packing, full knowledge of the market* LODGK DIKKOTOltY Rising Ht?r Chapter No. 4. R. A M.. meet* third Tue*du} n? ??" month. B. T. (Joodale, K. H. !*?: C. 11. Griffin, K,; U T. Mlllb, Hcriho, 1'. J/ullose, Secretary. Kenihaw J^dgo No. '4b, A. If\ .u iiiocit h first Tuesday In ? month.' N. H< Goodale. \V. M. W. Gulscnhcuier, 'Ireus.; N, <' A most. Secret ury. Jr. O. u. a. m., meoiw foil pi h I )i day night to each month, C, H Uifuhmorv, t'.; .1. F. I ia t ? ? rn . ? . It. 8. Uve Oak Cynip No. 4 9, W- *> ^ meets first Thurnday night each month. 0. W. Hirchmo?'? C. C,, VV. K. Johnson, CUu'U IJeKalh Lodge No. 4 1. K. oi I meets secfuod and fourth Won day nighty In each month. W. (i. wtl tdH; CI m. ii. li. K. of It. & 8 Poplar ('amp No. W. <> W meets Monday night on or befo< the full moon in each month. 'I J. Munnerlynr c. Oii '{ Spill row, Clerk. viuiqeh M>d^i No. 2&JJ, A. I'V M 1 1 1 1 ? t ? t m Thursday n ig Ii I <>n wi' M fore full moon In ottuh month. 1 W. Joy, W. M.{ VV. It. Davis/ 5 W.; L. H. White. J. W. Richard Klikland Council. No. 1^''. Jr. O. U. A. M., <Antioeh.) meet. First Thursday night ai'ler r u I mOon in each uion'h. F I). Ho> kin, C, W. Shiver. It. a. Uafayette Council No. 2, It, & S. M meetH H(.'t:?nd Tuesday In ciicl mot ?U?. i), H. Griffin, T. I. M. It T. Goodaie. It. 1. I). M; J. C Itowan, I. 1\ C. W.; A. W. Hur nott, Recorder. A1>M1N ISTIt - TOR'S NOTK 10. All pirtles indebted to the ICstat* of li. F. Sowo'l are hereby notified to make payment to the undersign I od, and parties having clainiB against the said Enta e will present thorn duly a tested -to the undersigned within the* time prescribed by law. I). L. Sowell, Administrator of the Estate of 13. ? P. Sowell. Camden, S. C., Jan. *15, 1914. final discharge. Notice is hereby given that one month from this date; on Saturday, February 21, 1914, 1 will present to the Probftte Court of Kershaw county, my final account as Admin istrator of the estate of J. N. Nich )lson, deceased, and . apply to said 'ourt for Letters Dismlssory of the'. . 4a id estate. C. S. Nicholson, Administrator. Camden, S. C., Jan. 20, 1914. FINAL, I>JSOIIAR?K. Notice is hereby given that on< lonth from this date on Saturday anuary 81, 1914, I will apply t< :r Probnto Court of#Kershaw Coun y for a final discharge as Adminis rator do bonis non, cum tcstamentc innexo of the estate ? of Charlotte Can toy, deceased. Thomas Ancrum Boykin. Camden, S. C., Dec. 27, 1913. FINAL DISCHARGE. Notice is given that one month r m this date on Monday, Febru ry 2o, 1914. I will make to the ' ?>b re Court of Kershaw County ny final return as Administrator or he Estate of John W. Seogers, de eased, and apply to said Court for ^otters Dismitsory. J. M. Sowell, Administrator. Camden, S. C? Jan. 22, 1914. Don't Throw It Away Bring Your Broken Parts to W. 0. HAY'S GARAGE at Singleton's Old Bakery stand and have them weld ed ? made stronger than new by the Oxy-Acety lene WeldingJProcess. This process saves the cost of automobile parts, to say nothing of the annoyance of delays in or dering new. Wood's Superior Seed Oats nre choice, recleaned, heavy seed grain. Wo off r all the best and most produc tive kinds for spring seeding; Burt or 90-Day, Texas Red Rust Proof, Swedish Select, Bancroft, Appier, etc. Write for prices and samples. Wood's 1914 Descriptive Catalog gives specially full and valuable infor mation about Spring Oats, Barley, Grasses and Clovers, Seed Corn, Sorghum, Cow Peas, Soja Beans: also about all other Farm and Garden Seeds. Catalog mailed free. Write for it. T. W. WOOD O SONS. Seedsmen, - Richmond, Va^ U TO THE PUBLIC We wish to notify the public that the old eit&t lished Sam Wing Laundry will be managed hercaft? by W. S. Lee, and we still wish your patronage. Laundry collected and delivered to all parts of the city. ? 1 SAM WING LAUNDRY 915 Broad St. Phone 91 Camden, S.i Funerals Directed! ___ ' We supply the best of burial goods, con- -? duct funerals and relieve families and friends of many unpleasant duties ince dent to death. We are always prepared ? 7-r:. . irFnS to serve those who need our service. i ' ' . ' ' n n, B. R. McCREIGHT, CAMDEN, S. C. ?y; . 4. ' v CARBON CLEANER We have installed an Oxygen Carbon Cleaner and can make . .v" your motor new like it was ? when first bought. ASK US ABOUT IT f 1 Camden Motor Co. New Fancy Hand Launch My work is guaranteed to give perfect. satisfacLwn ? ^ am prepared to do your work promptly and at reasonable ] prices. All domestic finish. I wish kind friends to help, me out and give me a trial order and be convinced. .Jjj WORK CALLED FOR AND DELIVERED ??H JIMMIE LEE, IN SEARCH OF Spring Millinery Mi ss Mattie Gerald will, leave this week for the ?e Northern and Eastern Mar kets in search of the latest Spring Styles for her Millin ery Parlors.