S. DFPARTMF : NT OF AGRICULTURE, 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY Bulletin No. 65. 
 
 D. E. SALMON, D. V. M., Chief of Bureau. 
 
 THE 
 
 POULTRY AND EGG INDUSTRY OF LEADING 
 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 ANDREW POSSUM, Ph. D., 
 Editorial Office, Bureau of Animal Industry. 
 
 WASHINGTON : 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
 1904.
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 Chief: D. E. SALMON, D. V. M. 
 
 Assistant Chief: A. D. MELVIN, D. V. S. 
 
 Chief Clerk: E. B. JONES, LL. M., M. D. 
 
 Dairy Division: HENRY E. ALVORD, C. E., chief; CLARENCE B. LANE, B. S., assistant 
 
 chief. 
 
 Inspection Division: A. M. FARRINGTON, B. S., D. V. M., chief. 
 Quarantine Division: RICHARD W. HICKMAN, Ph. G., V. M. D., chief. 
 Editor: GEORGE FAYETTE THOMPSON, M. S. 
 ^Artist: W. S. D. HAINES. 
 
 Expert in Animal Husbandry: GEORGE M. ROMMEL, B. S. A. 
 Librarian: BEATRICE C. OBERLY. 
 
 LABORATORIES. 
 
 Biochemic Division: MARION DORSET, M. D., chief. 
 
 Pathological Division: JOHN R. MOHLER, A. M., V. M. D., chief; HENRY J. WASHBURN, 
 
 D. V. S., acting assistant chief. 
 Zoological Division: BRAYTON H. RANSOM, B. Sc., A. M., acting zoologist. 
 
 EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 Superintendent: E. C. SCHROEDER, M. D. V. ; expert assistant, W. E. COTTON. 
 
 INSPECTORS IN CHARGE. 
 
 Dr. F. W. Ainsworth, Union Stock Yards, Pitts- 
 burg, Pa. 
 
 Dr. M. O. Anderson, care Geo. A. Hormel & Co., 
 Austin, Minn. 
 
 Dr. Don C. Ayer, Post-Office Building, South 
 Omaha, Nebr. 
 
 Dr. G. S. Baker, 6th find Townsend sts., San Fran- 
 cisco, Cal. 
 
 Dr. L. R. Baker, South St. Joseph, Mo. 
 
 Dr. Boyd Baldwin, care Cudahy Bros., Cudahv, 
 Wis. 
 
 Dr. A. E. Behnke, room 432 Federal Building, Mil- 
 waukee, Wis. 
 
 Dr. John A. Bell, Watertown, N. Y. 
 
 Dr. S. E. Bennett, room 338, Live Stock Ex- 
 change Building, Kansas City, Kans. 
 
 Dr. Eli L. Bertram, care Tri-City Packing Co., 
 Davenport, Iowa. 
 
 Dr. FredBraginton, care Continental Packing Co., 
 Bloomington, 111. 
 
 Dr. J. J. Brougham, care Missouri Stock Yards, 
 St. Louis, Mo. 
 
 Dr. G. W. Butler, care Drummond Bros., Eau 
 clair-, Wis. 
 
 Dr. J.B.Clancy, National stock Yards, ill. 
 
 Dr. Lowell Clarke, room 320 Quincy Building, 
 Denver, Colo. 
 
 Dr. Charles Cowie, OgdeQflbqig, N. Y. 
 
 Dr. David dimming, 912 Lajieerave., I'ort Huron, 
 Mich. 
 
 Dr. Robert Darling, care Chns. S. Hardy, San 
 Diego, Cal. 
 
 Dr. K. T. Davis., n. Kushville. Nelir. 
 
 Dr. J.F. Deadman.Sault stc. Marie, Mich. 
 
 Mr. Albert Dean, room 328 Stock Yard Station, 
 
 Kansas City, Kans. 
 Dr. F. L. De Wolf, care Chas. Wolff Packing Co., 
 
 Topeka, Kans. 
 Dr. Geo. Ditewig, care Union Stock Yard 
 
 cinnati, Ohio. 
 Dr. E. P. Dowd, care White, Pevoy it Dexter Co., 
 
 Worcester, Mass. 
 Dr. O. E. Dyson, 316 Exchange Building. Union 
 
 Stock Yards, Chicago, 111. 
 Dr. Geo. C. Fa ville, P. 0. box 796, Norfolk, Va. 
 Dr. N. K. Fegley, care Sperry & Barnes, New 
 
 Haven, Conn. 
 Dr. T. A. Geddes, care U. s. consul, London, 
 
 England. 
 
 Dr. H. H. George, 507 Johnson at., Louisville, Ky. 
 Dr. w. II. Gibbs, care Mortota-Gregson < 
 
 braska City, Nebr. . 
 Dr. L. K. Green, care Hammond. Standisli & Co., 
 
 Detroit, Mich. 
 
 Dr. 11. A. Hedrick,21. r > St. Paul St., Baltimore, Md. 
 Dr. O. B. HeSs, care Frye-Bruhn Co., Seattle, Wash. 
 Mr.G.S. Hickox, P. O. box 11 In, Salt Lake City, 
 
 Utah. 
 Dr. Julius Huelscii, care Jersey city Stock Yards 
 
 ( 'o.. Jersey City.N. J. 
 Dr. F. W. Hunttrigton, U. s. customs ollicc, <;. T., 
 
 K. R. wharf, Portland, Me. 
 Dr. Robert .lay. care Jacoli K. Decker <t Sou. 
 
 Mason City, Iowa. 
 In-. <;. A. Johnson, Exchange Building. 
 
 City. Iowa. 
 Dr. .lames .lolinston, care U. S. consul, Liverpool, 
 
 England. 
 
 M 'ontinued on 3d ]>agf: of, COVIT.]
 
 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY Bulletin No. 65. 
 
 D. E. SALMON, D. V. M., Chief of Bureau. 
 
 THE 
 
 
 POULTRY AND EGG INDUSTRY OF LEADING 
 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 ANDREW POSSUM, Ph. D., 
 Editorial Office, Bureau of Animal Industry. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 
 1904,
 
 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 
 
 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY, 
 Washington, D. C., September #7, 190 J^. 
 
 SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith an article dealing with 
 the poultry and egg industry of leading European countries, by Dr. 
 Andrew Fossum, of the Editorial Office of this Bureau, and to recom- 
 mend its publication as a bulletin. The special feature of this article 
 is the full description of the methods of producing and marketing eggs 
 in Denmark, by which that little Kingdom is able to secure a constant 
 foreign trade at high prices. 
 
 Respectfully, D. E. SALMON, 
 
 Chief of Bureau. 
 Hon. JAMES WILSON, 
 
 Secretary.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 fage. 
 
 Introduction 5 
 
 Denmark 6 
 
 Numbers of poultry 6 
 
 The export and import trade 7 
 
 Foreign eggs in Denmark 9 
 
 Imports and exports of poultry 10 
 
 Poultry and egg societies in Denmark 10 
 
 Great Britain 22 
 
 Numbers of poultry 22 
 
 Why egg production has decreased 22 
 
 Importation of eggs 23 
 
 Poultry societies 24 
 
 Per capita consumption 24 
 
 Imports of poultry 24 
 
 Ireland 25 
 
 Work of the congested districts board 25 
 
 Cooperation established 28 
 
 The Irish Agricultural Organization Society 29 
 
 Transformation due to poultry societies 33 
 
 Instruction in poultry keeping 34 
 
 France 38 
 
 Geographical distribution of poultry 38 
 
 The conditions of production 39 
 
 Method of collecting eggs at St. Malo . 41 
 
 Production and consumption of poultry 41 
 
 The possibilities of improvement 42 
 
 Imports and exports of poultry 42 
 
 French exports of eggs 43 
 
 Live and dead poultry 49 
 
 Pat6 de foie gras 50 
 
 Consumption of eggs in Paris 51 
 
 Italy 55 
 
 Germany 58 
 
 Austria-Hungary 60 
 
 Netherlands 63 
 
 Belgium 64 
 
 Russia 64 
 
 Appendix I. Rules governing the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark. . 67 
 Appendix II. Rules of the Society for the Promotion of Poultry Breeding in 
 
 Denmark 71 
 
 Appendix III. Rules of the Society for Profitable Poultry Breeding 73 
 
 Appendix IV. Rules governing the Danish Cooperative Egg Export Society. 74 
 
 3
 
 THE POULTRY AND EGG INDUSTRY OF LEADING 
 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES." 
 
 By ANDREW FOSSUM, PH. D., 
 Editorial Office, Bureau of Animal Industry. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is necessary only to glance at the imports and exports of eggs 
 for the leading countries of Europe to understand the place that the 
 egg trade now occupies in the commerce of the world. Rapid trans- 
 portation has made it possible to ship this perishable article to dis- 
 tances unthought of before. So it has come to pass that eggs, which 
 used to be consumed where they were produced, now form an impor- 
 tant part of the food supply of our large cities. With Germany and 
 England, respectively, importing eggs in 1902 valued at $27,386,898 
 and $30,702,575, it shows that the time is past when we should con- 
 sider this an infant industry, and it is destined to expand greatly in 
 the near future. 
 
 A perusal of this article shows that the consuming countries, as 
 shown by their enormous imports of eggs, are the United Kingdom and 
 Germany. Both of these great countries are increasing their consump- 
 tion every year if one m&y judge from the imports. For instance, 
 the imports into the United Kingdom, which in 1871 were valued at 
 $6,149,368, increased fivefold by 1902. In Germany the imports 
 increased in value from $17,103,108 in 1895 to $27,386,898 in 1902. 
 
 The conspicuous position that Denmark now occupies in the Euro- 
 pean egg trade has called attention to the methods followed in the 
 development of its poultry industry. Denmark was the first country 
 to develop and perfect the system now in vogue in that country, and 
 the principles have proved so sound that several other countries have 
 followed in her steps. 
 
 The success of the enterprise has been so complete, both in Denmark 
 and in other countries that have tried it, that the people of the United 
 States can hardly afford to overlook it any longer. This industry in 
 
 From the nature of the subject in hand the official documents have been indis- 
 pensable in preparing this report. The author has used freely whatever has suited 
 the purposes of this report in Danish, English, French, and German publications, 
 and it would hardly be possible to give due credit in every instance to each docu- 
 ment. As regards Denmark, thanks are due to the following persons, who have fur- 
 nished valuable data: Hr. J. Kornerup, Aarhus; Hr. Anton Thomsen, Terpling ved 
 Hoisted, and Hon. Raymond R. Frazier, United States consul at Copenhagen. 
 
 5
 
 6 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 America is extensive, but it lacks organization to such an extent that 
 in spite of the great production our large cities are paying famine 
 prices for an inferior article. Organization along the lines followed 
 in Denmark would be in the interest of the producer and consumer 
 alike. The producer would obtain better prices and the consumer 
 would obtain guaranteed fresh eggs of full weight. 
 
 England, which is the center of the European trade, is too remote 
 to furnish a large opening for eggs from this side of the Atlantic so 
 long as the conditions obtaining here continue. But the large cities 
 upon the Eastern seaboard and in the interior of the country should, 
 with better organization, be more profitable markets than any foreign 
 market. 
 
 DENMARK. 
 
 NUMBERS OF POULTRY. 
 
 The earliest census of poultry took place in 1888. Since then there 
 have been two censuses one in 1893 and another in 1898. The table 
 below shows the reports for these three years: 
 
 Numbers of poultry in Denmark in 1888, 1893, and 1898. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Chickens. 
 
 Turkeys. 
 
 Ducks. 
 
 Geese. 
 
 1888 
 
 4 592 000 
 
 32 000 
 
 644 000 
 
 214 000 
 
 1893 
 
 5 856,000 
 
 41 000 
 
 724 000 
 
 230 000 
 
 1898 
 
 8 767 000 
 
 52 000 
 
 803 000 
 
 211 000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 It appears from this table that chickens, turkeys, and ducks have 
 increased in number in the years between 1888 and 1898, while geese 
 have decreased. This seems to be owing to the greater profitableness 
 of the former. 
 
 As a rule, chickens are not kept separately, but in connection with 
 other agriculture. Poultry is kept on all farms. But it is evident 
 that the importance of keeping poultry is greater for the small than 
 for the large farms, as the former lack other sources of income. 
 
 In 1895 there were in Denmark 236,860 farms and small holdings. a 
 According to the poultry census of 1898, there were 37 chickens on 
 the average to the farm or holding. Distributed according to the 
 acreage, Denmark has an average of 0.92 chicken to the acre. We 
 should not lose sight of the fact that poultry keeping may be con- 
 ducted with a small capital, and that in consequence of this it is 
 possible for the poorest classes to go into it with promise of profitable 
 returns. 
 
 Statistisk Tabelvark, Fjerde Riikke, Litra C. Nr. 9 Danmarks Jordbrug den Iste 
 Januar 1895.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 THE EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE. 
 
 The earliest statistics of the exports of eggs from Denmark proper 
 go back to 1861, while the imports begin three }^ears later, being 
 counted for the first three years with those of Schleswig-Holstein and 
 the Lubeck and Hanseatic Enclaves. 
 
 A table showing the imports and exports of eggs for the period 1861 
 to 1902 is given herewith: 
 
 Danish imports and exports of eggs, 1861 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1861 
 
 Dozens. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 Dozens. 
 13,707 
 16, 745 
 24,790 
 43,257 
 58,080 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 1862 
 
 
 
 
 1863 a . . . . 
 
 
 
 2,987 
 
 1864-65 
 
 858 
 3,335 
 
 
 1865-66 
 
 
 
 1866-67 
 
 
 
 
 1867-68 
 
 3,862 
 3,242 
 
 4,158 
 43,690 
 
 
 51,378 
 
 44,352 
 53,950 
 93,420 
 574,215 
 1,149,232 
 2,378,070 
 1,972,697 
 2,658,440 
 2, 328, 888 
 1,573,949 
 2,001,622 
 2, 183, 677 
 3, 320, 092 
 3,100,122 
 3, 983, 408 
 4,690,463 
 6, 071, 870 
 6,040,800 
 7,752,618 
 9, 246, 208 
 8,389,437 
 9,731,440 
 11,143,255 
 11,949,838 
 13,232,140 
 11,711,318 
 13,250,073 
 13, 175, 318 
 16,375,873 
 20, 752, 755 
 22,260,902 
 25,248,703 
 27, 646, 617 
 31,866,492 
 36,403,125 
 42, 500, 000 
 
 
 1868-69 
 
 
 
 1869-70 
 
 
 
 1870-71 
 
 
 
 1871-72 . . 
 
 12,370 
 29, 273 
 68,063 
 38,125 
 23,557 
 117, 237 
 108,038 
 94,750 
 85,427 
 135, 305 
 140, 908 
 206, 357 
 408, 728 
 424,678 
 207, 285 
 173,658 
 310,958 
 738,078 
 948, 705 
 1,705,223 
 1,815,423 
 1,768,030 
 1, 566, 460 
 1,422,673 
 2, 087, 960 
 2,296,617 
 2, 589, 558 
 2, 146, 977 
 2, 248, 628 
 3, 098, 830 
 5, 275, 563 
 
 
 
 1872-73 . .. 
 
 
 
 1873-74 
 
 9, 121 
 5,395 
 3,987 
 19,129 
 17,025 
 13,819 
 12,500 
 19,581 
 21,411 
 31,640 
 64,120 
 63,242 
 30,900 
 24,188 
 42, 597 
 96,386 
 139, 108 
 276, 942 
 293,088 
 264,547 
 270,249 
 211, 837 
 318, 203 
 343,835 
 365, 142 
 312, 690 
 318, 062 
 403, 440 
 499,284 
 678, 576 
 
 318,676 
 279, 145 
 451,126 
 382, 712 
 248, 026 
 296, 112 
 319, 523 
 520, 483 
 467,083 
 616, 774 
 795, 748 
 904,204 
 900,451 
 1, 080, 072 
 1,256', 368 
 1,236,236 
 1,457,626 
 1,541,754 
 1,809,754 
 1,933,220 
 2, 183, 687 
 2,020,464 
 2, 258, 704 
 2, 764, 902 
 3, 514, 910 
 3,668,353 
 4,488,464 
 4,870,096 
 5, 734, 128 
 6, 527, 944 
 ''8,092,000 
 
 1874 a 
 
 1875 
 
 1876 
 
 1877 .... 
 
 1878 . 
 
 1879 .. . . 
 
 1880 
 
 1881 
 
 1882 
 
 1883 
 
 1884 
 
 1885 .. 
 
 1886 
 
 1887 
 
 1888 
 
 1889 
 
 1890 
 
 1891 
 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 
 1894 ' 
 
 1895 
 
 1896 
 
 1897 . 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 
 
 4,587,760 
 
 1903 
 
 
 
 
 
 The figures for this year are for all of 
 1864, to 1874, the year ended on March 31; 
 b Preliminary figures. 
 
 1863 and the first three months of 1864. After March 31, 
 the year of 1874 is therefore shortened to nine months.
 
 8 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 In treating of the exports of eggs from Denmark from 1861 up to 
 the present time the general movements only are considered that have 
 manifested themselves in the course of a series of years, and the minor 
 fluctuations discarded that result from cold and unfavorable seasons 
 or from the demands of temporary markets. The exports of 1861 
 were 13,707 dozens, and, although not the first, are plainly small 
 enough to be considered the beginning. The exports of the first ten 
 years are rather erratic, and show an uncertain condition of supply, 
 but there is a general tendency toward increase. 
 
 During the next ten years the exports rose from 574,215 to 3,100,122 
 dozens. What contributed more than anything else to the increasing 
 regularity in the exports of eggs was the fact that Denmark now found 
 a large and steady market in England. Before this, Norway had been 
 the chief customer, using Danish eggs chiefly to provision her large 
 merchant marine; but in 1871 England took the lead, which she has 
 ever since held, in buying Danish eggs. Beginning with the purchase 
 of two-thirds of the Danish exports of eggs in 1871, England has 
 always been the largest buyer and often taken nearly the entire supply. 
 The Danes soon found it to their interest to win the good will of this 
 great customer, and have systematically labored to improve the quality 
 of the supply. 
 
 In the decade ] 881 to 1890 we notice considerable improvement. 
 The exports rise from a trifle under 3,100,122 to 11,143,255 dozens. 
 The increase, moreover, is more steady and regular, and averages about 
 800,000 dozens a year for the decade. To this period, it will be 
 remembered, belongs the rise of several poultry societies which helped 
 to create and maintain a stronger interest in this industry. 
 
 The Danish Cooperative Egg Export Society came into the field in 
 1895 and brought life and vigor into the industry, and soon the exports 
 rose by leaps and bounds, increasing at the average rate of 3,333,333 
 dozens a year. The Danes were already familiar with the workings 
 of the cooperative system in other lines and now decided to apply its 
 principles for the first time to the egg trade. They knew that they 
 could not obtain better prices for their eggs so long as some of them 
 continued to sell bad and dirty eggs, and that, as a matter of self -pro- 
 tection, it was necessary to oblige all who shipped tinder a common 
 trade-mark to guarantee their products. In this way only could they 
 compete in the best markets and obtain the highest prices. The egg 
 trade is one of the industries to which the cooperative principles can 
 be best adapted, and, one might even add, the one without which suc- 
 cess is only possible under exceptional circumstances. Nothing can 
 better demonstrate the correctness of the Danish views than the suc- 
 cess which attended the undertaking. Instead of being the cheapest, 
 Danish eggs now rank with the highest in the British market; and 
 instead of exporting a few million dozens, as we might expect from a
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 9 
 
 small agricultural country, Denmark outranks all European countries, 
 when the size of territory and population are taken into consideration. 
 While Denmark in 1902 exported eggs valued at $6,527,944, Germany, 
 with an area more than fourteen times greater, imported eggs in the 
 same year to the value of $27,387,058. 
 
 The table below gives for 1900 the imports and exports of eggs for 
 several countries and their percentage per capita: 
 
 Value of imports and exports of eggs and per cent per capita of population, 1900. 
 
 Country. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 France 
 
 Dollars. 
 3, 408, 579 
 24,061,090 
 65,190 
 
 Per cent. 
 0.09 
 .43 
 .002 
 
 Dollars. . 
 2,895,545 
 140, 082 
 9,656,840 
 15,835,214 
 20,150,285 
 1,505,979 
 655,470 
 
 Per cent. 
 0.08 
 .002 
 .30 
 .15 
 .45 
 .23 
 .13 
 
 Germany 
 
 Italy 
 
 Russia . - . 
 
 Austria-Hungary 
 
 5, 563, 155 
 1,962,424 
 1,074,802 
 26,308,396 
 423,440 
 
 .12 
 .30 
 .21 
 .71 
 .17 
 
 Belgium 
 
 Holland.. . 
 
 England . 
 
 Denmark 
 
 4,852,676 
 
 1.98 
 
 
 The increase in the egg export has been so great as to change its 
 relative position with regard to other items of export. The table of 
 values below shows that eggs occupied the fifth or sixth place in 1878 
 and the third place in 1901: 
 
 Exports in 1878. 
 
 Butter $7, 906, 000 
 
 Cattle 5, 876, 400 
 
 Horses 1,715,200 
 
 Bacon and meat 1, 527, 600 
 
 Eggs 321,600 
 
 Exports in 1900. 
 
 Butter $35, 456, 400 
 
 'Bacon 22, 214, 000 
 
 Eggs 5,681,600 
 
 Meat 3, 108, 800 
 
 Horses 3, 082, 000 
 
 Cattle 2, 224, 400 
 
 FOREIGN EGGS IN DENMARK. 
 
 The imports, like the exports, have steadily grown. From a few thou- 
 sand dozens in the "sixties" they have risen to over 4,000,000 dozens 
 in forty years. Sweden and the former Danish provinces (Schleswig- 
 Holstein and Lauenburg) used to be the principal sources of the sup- 
 ply, till Russia supplanted them during the last decade. Nearly all the 
 eggs imported into Denmark go into home consumption, only a small 
 fraction entering into the reexports. The transit trade, which figure's 
 so largely in some countries, is here very small. The imports did not 
 reach the 100,000-score mark (score = 20 eggs) till the early "eighties." 
 Beginning with 1890 they have remained for ten years at about 
 1,000,000 scores, and in the last three years have doubled. As Dan- 
 ish eggs bring a high price and are in demand, it is more profitable to 
 sell their own product and to supply some of the home demand by 
 imports from abroad. Foreign eggs, at the same time, being com-
 
 10 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 paratively fresh on their arrival in Denmark, would become rather 
 old when they reached the British consumer. 
 
 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF POULTRY. 
 
 A table giving the imports and exports of poultry shows that the 
 former have far exceeded the latter during the last eighteen y ears: 
 
 Danish imports and exports of poultry, 1885 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1885 
 
 56,409 
 21,096 
 13,253 
 15, 917 
 104,285 
 79,698 
 149, 286 
 100, 095 
 142, 020 
 
 856,238 
 18, 770 
 11,792 
 14,145 
 92,677 
 70,827 
 104,663 
 70, 175 
 97,008 
 
 2,102 
 1,801 
 1,790 
 1,449 
 886 
 2,197 
 2,298 
 1,871 
 2,476 
 
 82,453 
 2,027 
 2,015 
 1,631 
 997 
 2,473 
 2,039 
 1,855 
 2,356 
 
 1894 
 
 139, 127 
 146, 233 
 82, 151 
 70,384 
 57, 373 
 49, 078 
 21,905 
 64,019 
 36,891 
 
 96,944 
 101, 503 
 53,940 
 56,589 
 47, 936 
 35, 396 
 17,608 
 43,443 
 29,668 
 
 2,119 
 4,835 
 4,075 
 1,546 
 1,420 
 2,800 
 3,897 
 3,701 
 6,081 
 
 2,091 
 4,632 
 4,041 
 1,657 
 1,522 
 2,948 
 4,036 
 4,958 
 7,879 
 
 1886 
 
 1895 
 
 1887 
 
 1896 
 
 1888 
 
 1897 
 
 1889 
 
 1898 
 
 1890 
 
 1899. , 
 1900 
 
 1891 
 
 1892 
 
 1901 
 
 1893 
 
 1902 . 
 
 
 
 POULTRY AND EGG SOCIETIES IN DENMARK. 
 
 The fact that so many poultry societies lead a perfunctor}^ life and 
 exist only on paper might lead one to overlook their importance. But 
 what poultry societies can accomplish in spreading information and 
 inculcating rational methods in the industry, we may learn from the 
 history of the poultry societies in Denmark. In that country we can 
 trace back to the societies the influence that elevated the industry from 
 the low estate in which it was before reaching the rank it now occupies. 
 The societies, with intelligent men at their head, led the way. As it 
 was the societies that made the improvements and brought about the 
 exceptional conditions that now obtain in this industry in Denmark, it 
 will be worth our while, in order to understand the progress that has 
 been made, to discuss at some length the history of these societies. 
 The purpose of a few of these following pages will be to give an 
 account of the history of the different societies that have contributed 
 to the remarkable development of this industry. At the same time 
 the purpose has been maintained to give all information obtainable 
 about the poultry organizations in other leading European nations, 
 together with a full record of imports and exports of poultry and eggs. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE DANISH POULTRY SOCIETIES. 
 SOCIETY FOR POULTRY BREEDING IN DENMARK." 
 
 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT. 6 
 
 The first impulse tending to better organization in poultry raising 
 as well as in several other industries came from Consul-General Hen- 
 
 For rules, see Appendix I, p. 472; for by-laws, p. 474. 
 
 & A comprehensive sketch of these societies appeared in the quarter-centennial 
 number of Tidsskrift For Fjerkraeavl, Aarhus, June 16, 1903.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 11 
 
 drik Pontoppidan, a man held in great esteem in Denmark for his 
 broad and high-minded patriotism. In June, 1878, a small but enthusi- 
 astic party met on his estate, Constantinsborg, near Aarhus, to consider 
 in an informal way what could be done to improve the condition of the 
 poultry industry. After a preliminary meeting they organized a 
 society at Aarhus on November 30 of the same year. That there was 
 genuine interest in the enterprise appears from the fact that forty 
 speakers listed for the occasion did not exhaust the fund of enthusiasm. 
 The society adopted the name "The Society for the Promotion of Poul- 
 try Breeding, Especially of Chicken Breeding and Egg Trade.' 1 As 
 the meeting declared, the object was to be attained by discussions, 
 lectures, exhibits, and pamphlets; by giving advice and information 
 in matters pertaining to poultry breeding; by supplying the farmers 
 with breeding animals and sitting eggs; by building a model poultry 
 run, and by furthering the interests of the industry in every way that 
 the directors might deem expedient. It also assists local societies in 
 their exhibits by giving advice, lending cages, selecting judges, and 
 offering prizes. The same meeting adopted a series of rules, or laws. 
 According to these the practical management is in the hands of the 
 directors, while the final authority is in the general meeting. To keep 
 in touch with all the members, scattered over the whole country, each 
 town or district having ten members sends one delegate to the annual 
 meeting. To be within the financial reach of the small farmers, the 
 annual fee is 2 kroner (53.6 cents). The officers were able and enthusi- 
 astic men. Such was the organization of this society, the first of its 
 kind not only in Denmark but in all Europe. 
 
 Pamphlets sent to all parts of the land stirred up a lively interest in 
 the undertaking by calling attention to the neglect in which the indus- 
 try found itself, and its importance in France and elsewhere. It would 
 prove an important source of income to all, and not least to the small 
 farmers and tenants. 
 
 From small beginnings the society has grown in numbers and impor- 
 tance. The membership at the time of the first general meeting was 
 600; in 1891 there were 2,373 members, and in June, 1903, 3,456. 
 The standing that the industry enjoys appears from the fact that a 
 baron is its president and the crown prince its patron. 
 
 The following table shows the number of members every three years 
 from 1879 to 1903: 
 
 1879 
 
 1,351 
 
 1894 
 
 2,268 
 
 1882 
 
 2,600 
 
 1897 
 
 2, 900 
 
 1885 
 
 2,754 
 
 1900 
 
 3,124 
 
 1888 
 
 2,489 
 
 1903 
 
 3, 456 
 
 1891 . . 
 
 . 2,373 
 
 
 
 It soon became evident that it was necessary to publish a periodical 
 in order to reach all the members. The first general meeting, March,
 
 12 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 1879, agreed to this, and the first number of the paper appeared 
 March 10 of the same year. Georg Bricka was the first editor, and 
 he continued in that capacity till the end of 1901, when he was suc- 
 ceeded by Fr. Hansen, the present editor. Georg Bricka was a great 
 worker and a man of extensive information. Besides writing at times 
 the entire issue of the journal, he wrote several books on poultry 
 breeding one of them the largest in the language. He was a mem- 
 ber and for ten years president of the parish council, teacher in the 
 grammar school of Fredericksborg, musical leader in his town of Aar- 
 hus, and judge of poultrj^ exhibits and prize compositions. He con- 
 tinued to be the editor till the end of 1901, when he died. By private 
 subscriptions the societ}^ erected a monument to his memory the follow- 
 ing year. A man of his energy and sound character was sure to make 
 a lasting impression upon the society, which developed on broad and 
 sound principles. The journal is free to the members of the society, 
 but the outlay in maintaining it is many times repaid by the influence 
 it exerts in holding the members together and in furthering the cause 
 it represents. " For many members," as the president, Baron Rosen- 
 krantz, wrote to Bricka, " the journal is the society. They do not 
 join or withdraw from the society, but subscribe to or discontinue the 
 paper." 
 
 This new industry had appeared at the right moment, and it was 
 only necessary to find some means of spreading information in order 
 to advance the cause. They had to hit upon the right kind of infor- 
 mation and how to spread it effectively among the peasants. At first 
 the society made use of Bricka's Brief Guide, but in 1890 adopted 
 Fenger's Brief Directions in Poultry Breeding, which in a few pages 
 gives the fundamental principles of practical poultry keeping. 
 
 At first these pamphlets were sent to school teachers for distribu- 
 tion, but the promoters soon satisfied themselves that this was not the 
 best method and abandoned it. Since then the society has distributed 
 over 60,000 copies through the farmers' credit associations, and in 
 more expensive bindings as prizes to those who drew "blanks" at the 
 exhibitions. 
 
 Poultry shows should not be underestimated. Shows are as impor- 
 tant in this as in the other lines of animal industry. They allow the 
 members an opportunity to compare the results of their work, and 
 thereby check and correct excesses and give a health}^ direction to the 
 industry. Then they serve as excellent places of exchange. Finan- 
 cially, they have usually shown a deficit, but in view of the general 
 benefit done by them the society has, nevertheless, given twenty-eight 
 shows during the twenty-five years it has existed. 
 
 The- first exhibition of poultry occurred at Aarhus June 27 and 28, 
 1878. The members exhibited 213 birds. Of the purebred birds the 
 Spanish were best represented. About 4,000 people visited the exhib-
 
 P.OULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 13 
 
 its. It has been encouraging to note that greater interest in the work 
 has always manifested itself in the locality where an exhibition has 
 been held, and for this reason they hold their annual exhibitions first 
 in one place and then another. They have been held in twenty-one 
 different places since 1879. The one at Odense in 1900 exhibited 1,020 
 birds, but the largest and most striking was the quarter-centennial at 
 Aarhus in 1903. 
 
 When this poultry society came into existence Danish eggs were 
 small and held in low esteem in the British market. Many farmers 
 kept back their product waiting for better prices, and the English 
 complained that as soon as the price rose every case from Denmark 
 contained pickled and spoiled eggs. In Denmark a score of small eggs 
 brought as much as so mam 7 large ones, and it was too much to expect 
 the farmers to make any sacrifice without a corresponding advantage. 
 As a rule, they consumed the large ones and sold the rest. The society 
 worked for an improvement by introducing the custom of buying and 
 selling eggs by weight and not by number. The result was that a 
 dozen large ones would bring a higher price, both on account of their 
 size and weight. Although the English still handled eggs by the 
 dozen, they paid more for large ones. In 1880 the directors entered 
 into negotiations with the large egg dealers with the end in view of 
 purchasing eggs by weight. These favored the idea and were willing 
 to make a change, provided other dealers would do the same. Under 
 these circumstances progress was slow, and years passed before the} 7 
 brought about the present condition of things, which is that the 
 export trade isJby weight. How far the Danes were in advance of the 
 rest of the world appears from the fact that the Berlin authorities 
 only last year recommended the use of weight in the egg trade, and 
 some great nations still cling to the antiquated method of marketing 
 eggs by the dozen. 
 
 In order to bring about an increase in the size of the eggs it was 
 necessary to obtain better breeds of chickens, but no one knew as yet 
 what kinds would adapt themselves to the countiy. To ascertain how 
 they would thrive they distributed in 1880 to fifty persons in different 
 parts of the country six hundred sitting eggs of purebred chickens on 
 the condition that the recipients should report on the experiment in 
 the fall. In the following year the} 7 sent out more eggs, and in 1883 
 postal cards with printed forms accompanied the eggs. It was found 
 impossible in many cases to protect the eggs during transmission, and, 
 as only a few reports were made, the plan was abandoned in 1885. An 
 attempt to distribute pure stock proved almost equally unsuccessful. 
 
 The society had abandoned the plan of maintaining a model poul- 
 try farm in 1882 as being too expensive; but now, having stopped 
 the distribution of eggs, they decided to distribute purebred chicks. 
 As in the case of eggs, the poorer classes had the preference, and
 
 14 
 
 BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 
 
 could also to a certain extent choose the breeds they desired. The 
 condition was that they report the results. There was less inconven- 
 ience regarding the reports, and altogether this methed proved to 
 be the most satisfactory, and contributed more than any other to 
 improve the poultry breeds in the land. As many complaints were 
 made of defects in the fowls sent out, the society decided to gather 
 and inspect all chicks at Aarhus before making the distribution. This 
 was expensive, but necessary, and permitted an exchange of cockerels. 
 At first the society sent out Italians and Minorcas in accordance 
 with a plan that the latter, being less hardy, were distributed over 
 the Islands and the former in Jutland. The society began to distrib- 
 ute specimens of the native kind in 1890, and has since experimented 
 with other breeds. They distributed annually thirty-three birds at 
 first, but since 1889 they have distributed as shown in the following 
 table: 
 
 Distribution of poultry in Denmark, 1889 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Young pullets. 
 
 Young cockerels. 
 
 Ital- 
 ians. 
 
 Minor- 
 cas. 
 
 Danish. 
 
 Orping- 
 tons 
 and 
 Lang- 
 shans. 
 
 Ply- 
 mouth 
 Rocks. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Ital- 
 ians. 
 
 Minor- 
 cas. 
 
 Danish. 
 
 Orping- 
 tons 
 and 
 Lang- 
 shans. 
 
 Ply- 
 mouth 
 Rocks. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1889 
 
 17 
 17 
 20 
 12 
 17 
 14 
 17 
 31 
 9 
 11 
 11 
 7 
 13 
 10 
 
 6 
 10 
 1 
 8 
 8 
 6 
 8 
 12 
 10 
 11 
 10 
 8 
 4 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 23 
 30 
 26 
 24 
 25 
 25 
 30 
 46 
 25 
 
 25 
 22 
 25 
 25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1890 
 
 3 
 5 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1891 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1892 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1893 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1894 
 
 5 
 5 
 3 
 2 
 3 
 2 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1895. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1896 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1897 
 
 4 
 
 
 7 
 2 
 3 
 5 
 3 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 4 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 12 
 8 
 8 
 5 
 9 
 21 
 
 1898 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1899 
 
 2 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1900 
 
 4 
 8 
 5 
 
 
 
 1901 
 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 
 2 
 5 
 
 1902. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The native poultry, by long and unsystematic crossing, had degen- 
 erated to such a degree that many despaired of finding the original 
 stock. "It was seldom possible," we read in a poultry journal of 
 1880, " to find the Danish breed in a pure state." But a fe^y isolated 
 breeders had faith in the breed and hoped to restore it by careful 
 selection. It possessed the advantage of being hardy and contented 
 and perfectly adapted to the climatic and other conditions of the 
 country. This breed is a fair layer, producing eggs the size of those 
 of Wyandottes. A score weighs about 2.3 pounds. The cock is red 
 and black and the hen is bun* colored. Societies for the development 
 of this breed sprang up in 1888, and finally in 1900 the three leading 
 poultry societies agreed upon a standard whereby it could be recog-
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 15 
 
 nized. About this time special clubs or associations were formed for 
 the purpose of improving the different breeds of poultry Italians, 
 Minorcas, Danish, etc. The object was not so much to make money 
 as to bring out and perfect the best qualities of the breed and thus 
 ultimately to make them more profitable to the country. 
 
 We have already seen that a lack of funds prevented the society 
 from realizing its original plan of maintaining model poultry runs. 
 Since 1893 experimental stations have been established the first one 
 at Aarhus for the native Danish breed and one at Copenhagen for the 
 partridge-colored Italians. After receiving a state aid of 6,000 kroner 
 ($1,608) a year, the society has'maintained six more stations two for 
 White Italians, one for Plymouth Rocks, one for Wyandottes and 
 partridge-colored Italians, and one for Minorcas. The society has 
 also awarded prizes for compositions on, numerous subjects. This 
 work is of a practical nature and has been of great benefit to the 
 country. 
 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 According to the original draft of the constitution in 1878, the 
 practical management of affairs was in the hands of the directors, 
 while the final authority rested with the general meeting, consisting 
 of representatives assembling annually. The meeting^ were held in 
 different places each 3 r ear, and it occurred that the locality where the 
 meeting was held was so strongly represented that the resolutions 
 hardly failed to be an expression of the local rather than of the gen- 
 eral sentiment. Hoegh-Guldberg had called attention to this unfor- 
 tunate condition in 1880, and two years later a change was made. 
 Henceforth each district sent two delegates to the meeting of depu- 
 ties. These in turn elected a president for three years and four 
 directors for two years, who constituted the executive committee. 
 The secretary-treasurer may be chosen outside the directorate. Thus 
 all the counties were equally represented, but so long as each delegate 
 had to pay his own expenses few came to the meetings; in 1887 only 
 14 appeared. So a change was made in that year. Thirty -eight 
 representatives 2 from each county replaced the former delegates. 
 One-half of the delegates retired each year. They had the choice of 
 their own successors as well as of the directorate, which now con- 
 sisted of 11 members 5 from Jutland, 2 from Fyn, 3 from Sjaelland 
 and Bornholm, and 1 from Lolland-Falster. The directors chose their 
 own officers and the executive committee. Thus outside members had 
 no influence. From being entirely democratic in the beginning the 
 society had become oligarchic in form. That this continued without 
 opposition for ten years is a tribute to the fairness and the ability of 
 the governing body; and it was a mark of the confidence of the mem- 
 bers that when a democratic change took place only three societies 
 availed themselves of the privilege of sending representatives the first 
 year.
 
 16 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 Centralization now approached the danger line, and it was the part 
 of prudence to work in the opposite direction and develop independent 
 local associations. Fortunately, in 1887, the poultry society of 
 Hjorring had applied for admission as an affiliated society. This was 
 a fruitful suggestion, and prompted the society to admit others of that 
 kind and to encourage the formation of district societies and other 
 organizations with the purpose of admitting them in time as affiliated 
 societies. These paid no fees, but simply pledged a certain number of 
 their members to the head society and received in turn a correspond- 
 ing number' of copies of the society's periodical and the society's aid 
 in organizing exhibitions. In 1897 it was agreed that the counties 
 should each henceforth elect two representatives. Finally, in 1902, a 
 new constitution was adopted embodying further changes in this 
 direction. Accordingly there are now 20 districts, each sending 2 
 representatives their president and vice-president to the general 
 meeting. The meeting, as a rule, is to be held in connection with the 
 annual exhibition and is open to all members, but only representatives, 
 directors, and honorary members can vote. The directors are 7 in 
 number 3 from Jutland, 1 from Fyn, 2 from Sjaelland and Born- 
 holm, and 1 from Lolland-Falster. The president, vice-president, and 
 secretary constitute the executive committee. 
 
 SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF POULTRY BREEDING. a 
 
 Two new societies, after the pattern of the original one, sprang up 
 in Copenhagen in 1880 and 1882, respectively. This was unfortunate 
 and threatened to break up the country into small societies (as in 
 Saxony, where 100 societies existed at this time without any central 
 organization) and waste its energy in useless rivalry. Union was 
 especially important now that they purposed to take the lead in this 
 industry and distance all foreign competition. Consequently the 
 leaders left no stone unturned in order to live in harmony, and a com- 
 mittee of two from each society undertook to see that they should not 
 clash at any point. In 1889 the two Copenhagen societies combined, 
 and in 1891 the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark and the 
 Society for the Promotion of Poultry Breeding (Copenhagen) joined 
 and adopted the name The Danish Poultry Society, with headquarters 
 at Aarhus. The general government consisted of 5 directors 2 chosen 
 by the Copenhagen branch and 3 by the Aarhus branch. One-third 
 of the state aid was to go to the general government and the remain- 
 der to the two societies, in proportion to their membership. The one 
 branch should not hold an exhibit in the country nor the other hold 
 one in Copenhagen. Now all interests were harmonized and the work 
 could go on unhindered. 
 
 rules, see Appendix II, p. 4?6,
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 17 
 
 SOCIETY FOR PROFITABLE POULTRY BREEDING." 
 
 Now that poultry keeping had become remunerative a new tendency 
 appeared. People began to consider more closely the profits of poul- 
 try raising and to look upon the breeding of fancy birds as a separate 
 branch of the industry. A society representing this tendency came 
 into existence in 1897 and grew so rapidly as to rival the older societies 
 in membership. The name of this society is Society for Profitable 
 Poultry Breeding. The real leader in this movement was J. Pedersen- 
 Bjergaard, who edits the Poultry Yard, the paper of the society. 
 Attempts to combine this society with the others under a common 
 government have so far proved unsuccessful. The minister of agri- 
 culture favors a union among all the societies, in the hope that this 
 will best subserve the general welfare. 
 
 In 1903 the societies had the following membership: Society for 
 Poultry Breeding in Denmark, 3,700; Society for the Promotion of 
 Poultry Breeding, 2,000; Society for Profitable Poultry Breeding, 
 3,000; total, 8,700. 
 
 DANISH COOPERATIVE EGG EXPORT SOCIETY. 6 
 
 The Cooperative Egg Export Society was founded at Vejle, in Jut- 
 land, in 1895, but has since 1900 been located at Copenhagen. 
 
 The real purpose of this society is to market the products of the 
 poultry societies. Its work commences where the other societies leave 
 off, and supplies an essential link necessary to complete their financial 
 success. It works in harmony with them and attracts the same mem- 
 bership, although it is an independent organization. A great draw- 
 back to a succesful export trade had been the fact that producers as 
 well as dealers withheld their eggs for higher prices, and that in conse- 
 quence they were often a month old when they reached England. The 
 grocers and dealers themselves were the first to see the need of a 
 reform, and as early as 1890 attempted, without success, to form an 
 association to stop this practice. In order to hasten the transporta- 
 tion of eggs one of the poultry societies appealed to the ministry of 
 the interior to have eggs considered perishable goods, but this was 
 not granted till 1897. 
 
 How thorough and far-reaching the reforms of the Danish Coopera- 
 tive Egg Society were appears from the fact that the dealers and 
 grocers strongly opposed the new organization, as it went far beyond 
 the plans contemplated by them, but the rapid growth of the society 
 and the success of the enterprise, satisfying a long-felt need, was 
 strong enough to overcome all opposition. 
 
 According to the most recent reports there are altogether some 
 
 For rules, see Appendix III, p. 478. 
 6 For rules, see Appendix IV, p. 479. 
 7774 No. 6504 2
 
 18 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 33,500 members distributed among 475 local societies or circuits. The 
 conduct of all the affairs of the society is in the hands of a council of 
 five directors, who also, on the basis of market quotations, fix the 
 price of eggs paid to the members. Each circuit must have at least 
 ten members. The general meeting, consisting of delegates from the 
 circuits, prescribes a series of uniform by-laws for all the circuits, 
 allowing only slight deviations to be made by the circuits. 
 
 The circuit pays the society half a krone (13.4 cents) for each mem- 
 ber and one-half of all the fines collected. The circuit elects a local 
 council of its own, hires an egg collecter, supplies all the funds neces- 
 sary to pay for the eggs and for defra}dng the expenses till the eggs 
 are ready for shipment from the circuit. At this point the society 
 takes charge, paying the expenses till the eggs are on board the ships 
 for foreign export and deducting the costs from the general profits. 
 At the close of the financial year, after settling all the accounts, the 
 society pays one-half of the profits to the circuits and credits the 
 remainder to the circuits. This sum is to be used to carry on the work, 
 and can be paid over to the circuits onty at the final dissolution of the 
 society, unless in the judgment of the directors the amount exceeds 
 the requirements of the business: 
 
 The government of the circuit, just as that of the society itself, is a 
 directorate consisting of an uneven number of members and elected 
 by the circuit. The duty of the directors is to look after the interests 
 of the circuit, and to see that the eggs are delivered promptly and in 
 the condition required. They hire the egg collector and the other 
 employees of the circuit; they also fix the daily price paid for eggs by 
 the collector. 
 
 Every circuit has a central station situated, if possible, on a through 
 railway or steamship line connected with one of the shipping stations 
 of the society. It has an office and rooms for storing and packing the 
 eggs delivered by the members. It is the meeting place of the direct- 
 ors and members of the circuit. 
 
 Each circuit has an egg collector who gives satisfactory bonds for 
 the honest discharge of his work. The collector goes from farm to 
 farm on stated days and takes the eggs to the station in the evening. 
 The farmers must not deliver eggs that are more than seven days old 
 or that were laid before the last collection took place. The eggs must 
 be clean and be stamped with the number of the member who fur- 
 nishes them. The collector refuses dirty eggs, and stamps them to 
 prevent their being washed and presented a second time. The eggs 
 are bought by weight regardless of their size. The payment is in 
 cash and at a price fixed b}^ the directors of the circuit. 
 
 The cost of collecting the eggs is very low, and is paid by the 
 circuit, while the remaining expenses are borne by the society and 
 deducted from the payments to the circuits. The collector receives
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 19 
 
 generally 1.6 cents per 2.20 pounds (6 Ore per kilogram) which, on an 
 average of 16 eggs to the kilogram, amounts to 1.2 cents per dozen. 
 The cost of transporting the eggs from the stations of the circuits to 
 the steamer is on the average 2 ore per kilogram (0.53 cent per 2.20 
 pounds) or, at the same average of eggs per kilogram, 0.4 cent per 
 dozen. The total expense, then, for the eggs from the time they are 
 taken from the nests till they are placed on the steamer for foreign 
 countries is a trifle over 1 cents per dozen. 
 
 The directors of the circuits pay for the collecting and the packing. 
 The cases are 0.50 m. wide and 0.75 m. long, with two compartments, 
 and hold about 500 eggs. A case costs $2 and lasts about 100 journeys. 
 The packers place a layer of wood wool on the bottom of each com- 
 partment, and on this a cardboard case containing 50 eggs, each egg 
 in a separate cell. Over this they lay another pad and another card- 
 board case, and so on, until there are five tiers of eggs. On top they 
 place a heavier pad immediately under the lid. 
 
 The collector has charge of the stations and superintends the packing 
 of the eggs. It is important for the successful management of the 
 business that he be a man who is trusted and well known in the com- 
 munity. Another one of his duties is to make periodical inspections 
 of the nests of the poultry yards. 
 
 The society has nine stations where the eggs are packed for foreign 
 export. Copenhagen, which is also the headquarters of the society. 
 and Ringsted are on the island of Zealand, Svendborg and Odense 
 on Fyn, Rudkjobing on Langeland, and Aalborg, Aarhus, Vejle, and 
 Esbjerg in Jutland. Five of these Copenhagen, Aalborg, Aarhus, 
 Vejle, and Esbjerg are also ports of shipment. Esbjerg, situated on 
 the west coast of Jutland, and favorably located for the British trade, 
 is, as might be expected, the principal port of shipment. In 1902 
 one-third of all the eggs exported passed through this port. All the 
 exports from Esbjerg go to Great Britain. 
 
 On their arrival the cases are weighed before and after they are 
 emptied. Women generally do the grading, testing, and packing. In 
 grading they work behind long tables on which are six trays, or wooden 
 frames, one tray for each size or grade. The frame, or tray, holds 60 
 or 120 eggs, and has a hole for each egg. Practice makes the sorters 
 very expert. As a rule, they see at a glance to what grade an egg 
 belongs, and by long practice they become so skillful that they can 
 grade 120 eggs without being an ounce out of the way. As the trays 
 are tilled a man removes and weighs them. When a tray weighs too 
 much or too little for its grade, large eggs are replaced by small ones, 
 or vice versa, till the correct weight is obtained. Thereupon they are 
 taken into a dark room to be tested. 
 
 The testing apparatus is a box, 8 by 30 inches at the bottom, 2 feet 
 high, and widening upward. It is lined with mirrors, and has four
 
 20 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 16-candle electric lights at equal distances along the bottom. The tray 
 with the eggs, thick ends down, fits on top. While the bad eggs 
 appear dark and cloudy, the light shines through the sound ones, 
 giving them a clear pink color. The dark or suspicious eggs the 
 tester breaks, but if they are found upon breaking to be sound, the 
 person who supplied them is paid in full; otherwise he is fined accord- 
 ing to the rules of the society. The packing stations are so well 
 equipped for determining the freshness of the eggs and the system 
 works so well that even attempts at fraud are rare. 
 
 Now it remains to stamp them with the trade-mark of the society 
 and to pack them for export. The boxes used for this purpose are 
 about 20 by 79 inches and 9 inches deep, made of light pine wood, and 
 hold 1,440 eggs. They are nonreturnable. First the packers spread 
 on the bottom a layer of long, clean rye straw. On this they pack a 
 layer of eggs snugly together without anything between them. Over 
 these is placed another layer of rye straw, then another layer of eggs, 
 and so on until there are four layers of eggs, and then one substantial 
 layer of straw on top. Then the lid is nailed down, and the trade- 
 mark of the society, the grade, weight, and number of the eggs con- 
 tained are affixed. The method of packing does not appear to be 
 altogether uniform. Many stations use wood wool instead of straw. 
 
 After a consignment has been thoroughly examined, the officers of 
 the society remit to the circuit a numbered receipt stating the current 
 price per pound, the number and the weight of the eggs, as well as 
 the number of. spoiled or suspicious eggs. 
 
 Most of the Danish eggs go to England, and, as a rule, the eggs 
 reach London in forty to fifty hours. The large English firms have 
 agents in Denmark who generally buy the eggs free on board the 
 ship. English dealers deduct 60 eggs per case for breakage. 
 
 The table below gives the price per great hundred (120 eggs) in Lon- 
 don at four seasons of the year the 22d of March, June, September, 
 and December or, where no quotation is given for this, the date the 
 nearest before or after. 
 
 Prices of firnt-cla.w Danish circuit eggs on the London market, 1900 to 1903. 
 [Per great hundred=120 eggs.] 
 
 Year. 
 
 Extra large. 
 
 Large. 
 
 Small. 
 
 1900. 
 March 19 
 
 $1.82 to $1.96 
 1.95 2.07 
 2. 19 2. 43 
 3. 62 3. 74 
 
 1.70 1.82 
 2. 01 2. 07 
 2. 19 2. 31 
 3. 41 3. 53 
 
 81. 70 to 81. 76 
 1.76 1.82 
 2. 19 2. 25 
 3. 41 3. 53 
 
 1.18 1.70 
 1.82 1.88 
 2. 07 2. 13 
 3. 22 3. 28 
 
 SI. 18 
 
 1.40 
 2.01 
 2.98 
 
 to 81. 24 
 1.12 
 2.06 
 3.16 
 
 June 19 
 
 September 24 
 
 December 24 
 
 1901. 
 March 23 
 
 June 24 
 
 1.18 
 1.82 
 2.80 
 
 1.24 
 1.95 
 2.98 
 
 September 23 
 
 December 23...
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 21 
 
 Prices of first-class Danish circuit eggs on the London market, 1900 to 1903 Continued. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Extra large. 
 
 Large. 
 
 Small. 
 
 1902. 
 
 March 21 
 
 June 23 
 
 September 22 . 
 December 22. 
 
 81.70 to 81.82 
 1.88 1.95 
 2. 19 2. 43 
 2. 47 3. 62 
 
 $1. 58 to $1. 64 
 1.70 1.82 
 2. 19 2. 25 
 3.28 3.41 
 
 $1.12 to 81.24 
 1.95 2.07 
 2. 80 2. 92 
 
 March20 1.70 1.76 1.18 1.24 
 
 June22 2.01 2.07 1.82 1.95 1.24 1.70 
 
 September 
 
 December21 3.40 3.52 3.16 3.28 2.79 3.03 
 
 COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICES OF EGGS IN LONDON. 
 
 [Per great hundred =120 eggs.] 
 
 On March 19, 1903. 
 
 French $1.58 to $2.31 
 
 Italian ^ 1.52 1.82 
 
 Hungarian 1.34 1.45 
 
 On June 22, 1903. 
 
 French, extra $2.43 to $2.55 
 
 French, choice 2.25 2.31 
 
 French, ordinary 2. 06 2. 19 
 
 Danish, 18 pounds 2.06 
 
 17 pounds 1. 94 
 
 16 pounds 1.76 
 
 15 pounds 1.64 
 
 14 pounds 1.51 
 
 Italian, extra 1. 94 2. 06 
 
 Italian, choice 1.64 1. 70 
 
 Italian, ordinary 1.45 1.57 
 
 Hungarian 1.15 1.51 
 
 Russian 1.03 1.45 
 
 On September 19, 1903. 
 
 French $2. 00 to $2. 91 
 
 Italian 1.94 2.43 
 
 Hungarian 1. 34 1. 94 
 
 Russian 1.39 1.82 
 
 On December 19, 1903. 
 
 French $3. 03 to $3. 65 
 
 Italian 2.67 3.22 
 
 Hungarian 1 . 76 2. 43 
 
 Russian 1.70 2.36 
 
 OTHER EGG SOCIETIES. 
 
 There are two small societies exporting eggs one at Nysted, with a 
 membership of 700, and another at Gaverslund, with a membership of 
 300. Besides these, five bacon factories have egg-packing centers and
 
 22 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 a total annual export of 6,000,000 pounds of eggs, valued at $670,000, 
 among which are: At Kalundborg, 750,000 pounds; Slagelse, 700,000 
 pounds; Esbjerg, 2,200,000 pounds. The Danish Cooperative Butter 
 Factory also deals in eggs. 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 NUMBERS OF POULTRY. 
 
 The "Agricultural Returns" have not included statistics on poultry 
 since 1885, and in consequence of this omission much definite informa- 
 tion on this subject is now lacking. Persons, however, familiar with 
 this industry have made estimates which may be more or less correct, 
 but which can not take the place of official figures. The following 
 are the last available figures for Great Britain: 
 
 Numbers of poultry in Great Britain, 1884 and 1885. 
 
 Kinds of fowls, 
 
 1884. 
 
 1885. 
 
 Turkeys . .. ... 
 
 500,770 
 
 474 583 
 
 Geese .. . 
 
 888 313 
 
 885 310 
 
 Ducks 
 
 2, 368, 390 
 
 2,201,601 
 
 Chickens 
 
 12, 303, 539 
 
 12,401 533 
 
 
 
 
 Total . 
 
 16,061,012 
 
 15 963,027 
 
 
 
 
 a The numbers are exclusive of those kept in towns and by cottagers with less than a quarter of an 
 acre of land. 
 
 The numbers of the different kinds of poultry for England alone in 
 1885 is shown below: 
 
 Turkeys 356,485 
 
 Geese 615,724 
 
 Ducks 1,736,788 
 
 Chickens 9, 556, 053 
 
 WHY EGG PRODUCTION HAS DECREASED. 
 
 The decline of British agriculture in the last century no doubt 
 arrested the development of the poultry industry also. We may to 
 some extent attribute the backward condition of this industry in 
 Great Britain to the lack of a numerous class of small farmers devoted 
 to intensive cultivation. The small holdings in P^ngland are compara- 
 tively few. Most of the agricultural land is in farms of from 100 to 
 over 1,000 acres and this reduces the number of poultry runs. With 
 the high price of land and grain the English could hardly expect to 
 vie with foreign countries in the production of ordinary eggs. But 
 their nearness to the great markets gives them an advantage in the 
 sale of new-laid eggs the line that i.s most profitable and in which the 
 French alone could seriously compete. For this reason the improve- 
 ment in the British poultry industry directly affects the French trade,
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 23 
 
 as appears from the fact that the French trade has declined as the 
 English has developed. With a perfect system of collecting, packing, 
 and shipping eggs such, for example, as the Danes follow the trade 
 in new-laid eggs should be profitable. Better rates also could be 
 obtained from the railway companies. Now the English complain that 
 foreigners enjoy cheaper rates than localities through which this trade 
 passes can obtain. 
 
 IMPORTATION OF EGGS. 
 
 The most striking feature in connection with this industry in Eng- 
 land is the enormous importation from abroad. Already in the 
 "fifties," when the annual imports did not yet exceed one million 
 great hundreds, writers on this subject became alarmed and attempted 
 to call the attention of the English to the growing importance of the 
 egg trade. They expressed the hope that the reviving industry at 
 home would soon supplant the foreign imports. After fifty years 
 have passed, however, the imports have increased twentyfold and the 
 revival has only begun. 
 
 It is a long time since England ceased to supply her own demand in 
 poultry and eggs. As imported eggs could be bought more cheaply 
 than they could be produced, the industry did not receive the attention 
 it deserved. With the decline of agriculture in England and the 
 growth of large cities and manufacturing centers, the imports have 
 .steadily increased. The table below shows the increase in number and 
 value since 1871. The latter has increased fivefold and the former 
 nearly sixfold in these years. With the growth of imports the aver- 
 age price per dozen has fallen from 18.4 cents to 16.2 cents. 
 
 Imports of eggs into the United Kingdom, 1871 to 1903. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1871 
 
 Dozens. 
 33, 372, 750 
 
 Dollars. 
 6, 149,3ftX 
 
 1888 
 
 Dozens. 
 93, 899, 390 
 
 Dollar*. 
 15,004,332 
 
 1872 
 
 44,299,310 
 
 8, 576, 693 
 
 1889 
 
 94,325,030 
 
 15, 220, 426 
 
 1873 
 
 56 039, 500 
 
 11,480,181 
 
 1890 
 
 102, 912, 460 
 
 16,686,284 
 
 1874... 
 
 56, 712, 269 
 
 11,840,847 
 
 1891 
 
 106,283,140 
 
 17,059,622 
 
 1875 
 
 61,768,630 
 
 12, 457, 559 
 
 1892 
 
 111,394,190 
 
 18, 466, 995 
 
 1876 
 
 62, 752, 170 
 
 12,752,157 
 
 1893 
 
 110,459,860 
 
 18,860,836 
 
 1877., 
 
 62 598 800 
 
 12 036 689 
 
 1894 
 
 118 769 680 
 
 18,426 170 
 
 1878 
 
 65, 309, 560 
 
 12,220,24'J 
 
 1895 
 
 127,225,860 
 
 19, 482, 770 
 
 1879 
 
 63, 892, 320 
 
 11,172,121 
 
 1896 
 
 132,450.011 
 
 20,364,628 
 
 1880 
 
 62 284 050 
 
 10,878 822 
 
 1897 
 
 140,317,540 
 
 21,202,401 
 
 1881. 
 
 63, 059, 930 
 
 11,301,911 
 
 1898 
 
 144,246,010 
 
 21,690,560 
 
 1882 
 
 67 660 200 
 
 11 607 872 
 
 1899 
 
 161,747 560 
 
 24,548,582 
 
 1883 
 
 78, 369, 680 
 
 13,295 546 
 
 1900 
 
 168,820,780 
 
 26, 308, 406 
 
 1884 
 
 82, 800, 073 
 
 14,163,914 
 
 1901 
 
 170,717,767 
 
 26,745,150 
 
 1885 
 
 83, 565, 680 
 
 14,264,865 
 
 1902 
 
 189,667,9. r >0 
 
 30, 702, 575 
 
 1886 
 
 86,264 280 
 
 14 055 293 
 
 1903 
 
 198,488,940 
 
 32, 204, 545 
 
 1887. 
 
 90, 840, 770 
 
 15,016.467 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 24 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 POULTRY SOCIETIES. 
 
 In recent years the English have begun to organize poultry societies 
 according to the Danish system. The National Poultry Organization 
 Society came into existence in 1898 for the purpose of encouraging 
 the poultry industry in the country and of establishing a system more 
 in accordance with the requirements of modern conditions. The soci- 
 ety has issued a series of leaflets to disseminate information about 
 poultry and to give advice regarding the choice of breeds, the forma- 
 tion of branches and collecting depots, the methods of rearing, and 
 marketing the produce. In May, 1903, there were in England eight 
 branches and twenty-four collecting depots, with a membership of 
 2,217. At that time there was but one branch in Scotland and none 
 in Wales. 
 
 PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION. 
 
 The Agricultural Statistics of the Board of Agriculture for 1902 
 prints a table giving the per capita consumption of imported eggs in 
 the United Kingdom from 1882 to 1902, which is reproduced here. 
 According to this the per capita consumption has more than doubled 
 in the last twenty years. As Ireland is not an importer of foreign 
 eggs, it should not be included in this table, and this would raise the 
 per capita consumption for the rest of the Kingdom. 
 
 Per capita consumption of imported eggs in the United Kingdom, 1882 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 1882 
 
 Number. 
 23 
 
 Year. 
 1889 
 
 Number. 
 30 
 
 Year. 
 1896 
 
 Number. 
 40 
 
 1883 
 
 . 27 
 
 1890... . 
 
 ... 33 
 
 1897 
 
 42 
 
 1884 
 
 28 
 
 1891 
 
 34 
 
 1898. .. . 
 
 ... . 43 
 
 1885 
 
 28 
 
 1892 
 
 35 
 
 1899 
 
 48 
 
 1886 
 
 29 
 
 1893 
 
 34 
 
 1900 . . 
 
 49 
 
 1887 
 
 30 
 
 1894 
 
 37 
 
 1901 
 
 49 
 
 1888.. 
 
 . 31 
 
 1895.. 
 
 . 39 
 
 1902 . . 
 
 . 54 
 
 IMPORTS OF POULTRY. 
 
 A glance at the census of 1885 shows that the stock of poultry in 
 Great Britain can not feed the large population of the Kingdom; nor 
 does the small surplus from Ireland suffice for this purpose. The im- 
 ports into Great Britain have increased year by year from $1,712,463 
 in 1886 to $5,850,934 in 1903. The largest imports before 1899 came, in 
 order of importance, from France, Belgium, Russia, and Holland, and 
 since that time from France, Belgium, Russia, and the United States. 
 The imports from France have been large and steady, valued at 
 $989,870 in 1886 and $1,241,699 in 1903. Except for the last year 
 these are the largest from any single country. The exports from 
 Belgium are in part reexports from Italy and elsewhere. Russian 
 exports to Great Britain have gradually grown from $88,891 in 1896 
 to $1,577,169 in 1903, when they surpassed those of any other country.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 25 
 
 In the last four years the imports of poultry from the United States 
 have figured largely, rising from $756,741 in 1900 to $1,139,087 last 
 year. 
 
 Values of poultry and game imported into the United Kingdom, 1886 to 1903. 
 
 1886 $1,712,463 
 
 1887 ,. 1,995,722 
 
 1888 1,963,812 
 
 1889 2,302,794 
 
 1890 2,422,821 
 
 1891 2,223,888 
 
 1892 2,839,262 
 
 1893 2,817,504 
 
 1894 2,340,222 
 
 1895 1 2,945,011 
 
 1896 3,433,209 
 
 1897 3,556,073 
 
 1898 3,102,355 
 
 1899 3,821,633 
 
 1900 4,915,961 
 
 1901 4,772,854 
 
 1902 5,153,837 
 
 1903 5,850,934 
 
 IRELAND. 
 
 WORK OF THE CONGESTED DISTRICTS BOARD. 
 
 Ireland is a grain-producing country and seems always to have had 
 a considerable number of poultry. From the annual census taken by 
 the Royal Irish Constabulary and Metropolitan Police, it appears that 
 the number of poultry has grown from 11,159,002 in 1870 to 15,276,128 
 in 1891 and to 18,153,714 in 1903. But an important change, which 
 does not appear from these figures, is that the quality has been 
 improved; that well-nigh the entire stock of poultry, which was not 
 very productive, has been replaced by better breeds. This silent 
 transformation has been brought about mainly by two organizations. 
 Of course, in Ireland as in other countries, the individual poultry 
 breeders have often done good work and thus contributed to the gen- 
 eral progress, but an enumeration of these would lead us into greater 
 detail than is the purpose of this article. 
 
 Passing by these individual poultry breeders, the organization that 
 first entered the field was the "Congested Districts Board " appointed 
 in 1891 to continue for twenty years and thereafter until Parliament 
 shall otherwise determine. The board was to consist of ten members 
 and its object was to improve the congested districts, which were 
 defined as follows: 
 
 Where at the commencement of this act more than 20 per cent of the population 
 of a county live in electoral divisions whose total ratable value divided by the num- 
 ber of the population gives a sum of less than 1 10s. for each individual, those divi- 
 sions shall form a separate county known as " congested districts county."
 
 26 
 
 BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 Numbers of poultry in Ireland for a series of years. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Chickens. 
 
 Turkeys. 
 
 Geese. 
 
 Ducks. 
 
 Total.a 
 
 1871 
 
 
 
 
 
 11 717 182 
 
 1872 
 
 
 
 
 
 11 737 5^ 
 
 1873 
 
 
 
 
 
 11 863,155 
 
 1874 
 
 
 
 
 
 12, 068, 375 
 
 1875 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 139 138 
 
 1876 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 618 500 
 
 1877 ... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 566 083 
 
 1878 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 711 174 
 
 1879 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 782 835 
 
 1880 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 430 182 
 
 1881 
 
 
 
 
 
 13, 972, 426 
 
 1882 b 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 998 651 
 
 1889 
 
 
 
 
 
 14,85P,517 
 
 1890 
 
 
 
 
 
 15, 408, 428 
 
 1891 
 
 9, 289, 925 
 
 932, 569 
 
 2, 117, 295 
 
 2, 876, 754 
 
 15, 276, 128 
 
 1892 
 
 9 422 946 
 
 950 674 
 
 2 115,828 
 
 2 846 133 
 
 15 335 749 
 
 1893 
 
 9, 978, 278 
 
 1,031,928 
 
 2, 177, 227 
 
 2, 909, 252 
 
 16, 097, 461 
 
 1894 
 
 10, 248, 280 
 
 1,011,591 
 
 2, 082, 005 
 
 2, 838, 071 
 
 16, 180, 601 
 
 1895 
 
 10 515 291 
 
 1,001,818 
 
 2,026,343 
 
 2,827 044 
 
 16 369 525 
 
 1896 
 
 11,339 813 
 
 1,090 539 
 
 2, 142, 186 
 
 2 973 233 
 
 17 537 570 
 
 1897 
 
 11,654 561 
 
 1,070,705 
 
 2, 022, 725 
 
 2 948,969 
 
 17 777,248 
 
 1898 
 
 11, 641, 561 
 
 1,070,705 
 
 2, 022, 725 
 
 2, 948, 969 
 
 17 683,960 
 
 1899 
 
 12, 086, 584 
 
 1,120,464 
 
 2,011,286 
 
 3,014,607 
 
 18 233,520 
 
 1900. ... 
 
 12, 403, 743 
 
 1,108,632 
 
 2,007,673 
 
 3, 027, 040 
 
 18, 547, 307 
 
 1901... 
 
 12, 679, 913 
 
 1,124,795 
 
 1,962,161 
 
 3, 040, 897 
 
 18,810,717 
 
 1902 
 
 12,681,227 
 
 1,038,472 
 
 1,836,195 
 
 2, 947, 813 
 
 18, 504, 324 
 
 1903 
 
 12, 529, 473 
 
 959, 787 
 
 1, 768, 613 
 
 2, 895, b41 
 
 18, 153, 714 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a The totals in this table do not always agree exactly with the sum of the other columns, as they 
 are later and revised figures. 
 *>Does not include the poultry of counties Clare and Limerick. 
 
 In the first report of the board submitted in 1892 eighty-four con- 
 gested districts are given, covering an area of 3,608,569 acres and 
 including a population of 549,516. Roughly speaking, these districts 
 are situated in the northwestern, western, and southwestern parts of 
 the island, including the counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscom- 
 mon, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, and Cork. Parliament placed the 
 income from certain sums of money at the disposal of the board and 
 empowered it to take such steps as it thought proper for improving the 
 congested districts in connection with agriculture, forestry, live stock, 
 poultry, etc. As practically all the inhabitants of congested districts 
 in Ireland are in possession of small plots of ground, the development 
 of agriculture and the improvement of live stock and poultry are of 
 primary importance. We shall deal only with the last subject an 
 industry, perhaps, which more than any other affected the poorest 
 class of "occupiers." The intention of the board is not so much to 
 provide relief work as permanently and materially to develop the 
 trade and industries of the localities where it operates; and it was rec- 
 ognized that iii point of importance the poultry industry comes next
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN" EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 27 
 
 only to the dairying industry, and that as an industry for small farm- 
 ers or cottagers it is second to no other. 
 
 EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE BREEDS OF POULTRY. 
 
 The board soon found that the poultry was of inferior breeds and 
 they set about an improvement. As the income at the disposal of the 
 board, if divided among the families in question, would have amounted 
 to only a few shillings each, it seemed that some plan should be 
 devised which would afford instruction and opportunities rather than 
 money for those who were willing to struggle to improve their condi- 
 tion. Working under new conditions, it was not an easy matter to 
 hit upon the best plan at the start. 
 
 Early in 1892 the board began to distribute purebred cockerels to 
 the cottagers in exchange for their male birds. During the first year 
 581 cockerels of the Langshan, Black Minorca, White Leghorn, and 
 Plymouth Rock breeds were bought and distributed. The attempt 
 was made, so far as practicable, to confine one breed to each district. 
 The Black Minorcas and Plymouth Rocks showed the best results, so 
 these breeds only were sent out the following year. 
 
 The board tried to show the country folk the benefit of keeping 
 good breeds of laying and table poultry, but unfortunately, as in the 
 case of cattle and horses, the practice of the people too generally was 
 to send all the good birds to market, keeping none for breeding pur- 
 poses. They did not at first see the value of the new and imported 
 breeds, for, neglected and left to themselves, these breeds often failed 
 to thrive or even to do as well as the old Irish hen. Disease broke out 
 among them and many died when they came into the hands of people 
 who did not know how to take care of the more highly cultivated 
 breeds. 
 
 In 1893 the board employed an expert to select and buy the breeds 
 suited to the different localities, so that the 1,200 cockerels and pul- 
 lets distributed this year fared somewhat better. In places where dis- 
 ease ravaged severely, the Indian Runner duck, as being better suited 
 to the localities than chickens, was introduced in great numbers; they 
 proved more prolific layers than the chickens and continued free from 
 the disease. 
 
 As the plan of distributing birds proved rather expensive and not 
 altogether successful, the board in 1893 adopted the plan of exchang- 
 ing the eggs of purebred chickens for those of the common kinds, 
 paying the distributor Id. for each egg he exchanged. As centers of 
 distribution, one or two farmers in a district obtained from the board 
 from 20 to 30 pullets and a suitable number of cocks on condition that 
 they exchange the eggs of the purebred fowls for an equal number of 
 the common kind during the months of February, March, April, and 
 May. As compensation, they received from the board Id. for each
 
 28 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 egg so given out. In 1901 the board reduced the compensation to a 
 half-penny per egg; and in case of poultry farms to be established in 
 the future it allowed the farmers to exchange the eggs of purebred 
 chickens at their full value in common eggs or to sell them at a rate 
 not to exceed a maximum price fixed by the board. If they complied 
 with the conditions of the management they received in addition each 
 year a cash bonus. 
 
 These farms gradually increased in number from 7 in 1892 to 30 
 in 1895, 65 in 1898, and 107 in 1901 and the number of eggs exchanged 
 rose from some 50,000 during the sitting season, about 1897, to 130,535 
 in 1901. 
 
 Some of the farms, however, engaged partly or altogether in raising 
 ducks to suppty damp and exposed places where the imported breeds 
 of chickens were not hardy enough. Thus, in 1891, 53 farms distrib- 
 uted eggs of fowls and ducks, 17 distributed eggs of fowls only, and 
 37 of ducks only. From June, 1896, down to the present time the 
 board has employed an expert to visit the farms at regular intervals 
 and superintend all the operations connected with this industry. It is 
 worthy of note that this expert was a lady. The sisters, also, in sev- 
 eral convents became interested and eagerly took up the work of teach- 
 ing the peasantry better methods of poultry raising. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF PLANT FOR FATTENING POULTRY. 
 
 In 1897 the board established at Carrigart, County Donegal, a plant 
 for fattening poultry. It was not successful at first and soon closed 
 on account of unsatisfactory management, but afterwards under expert 
 guidance it proved useful and even showed a handsome annual profit. 
 Although its principal business was to buy poultry from the neigh- 
 boring farmers and cottagers, and to fatten and export it to Scotland 
 and England, it also distributed eggs in the neighborhood. Thus in 
 1899 and 1900 the plant marketed 8,274 fowls, 218 ducks, 186 geese, 
 192 turkeys, and distributed 3,000 eggs of purebred poultry. 
 
 Although much of this work lacked the thoroughness and system it 
 afterwards acquired under the cooperative societies, it contributed its 
 share to the final success of the poultry industry in Ireland. 
 
 COOPERATION ESTABLISHED. 
 
 The second impetus to the poultry development in Ireland came from 
 the cooperative movement. This may be said to have had its begin- 
 ning at the Congress at Glasgow, when the Cooperative Union of 
 Great Britain decided to spend a sum of money to promote coopera- 
 tion in Ireland. This union sent an agent to Munster to organize 
 cooperative dairy societies in order that they might serve as a prac- 
 tical illustration of the benefits of cooperation. The experiment was 
 so successful that as early as 1893 there were thirty cooperative dairy 
 societies.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 29 
 
 THE IRISH AGRICULTURAL, ORGANIZATION SOCIETY. 
 
 In the following year the Irish Agricultural Organization Society 
 was formed with the general object of promoting agricultural organi- 
 zations for any purpose that might seem beneficial, and to counsel and 
 advise those engaged in agricultural pursuits. Men of all creeds and 
 parties joined and undertook to supply funds for a five years' experi- 
 ment. The society rapidly grew in public favor and has been the 
 means of bringing man}*- advantages within the reach of the poorer 
 members of the rural community. Its popularity was such that when 
 the first term expired it was voted to continue the work for another 
 five years, and it sends out special experts to organize the several kinds 
 of societies dairy, agricultural, rural banks, home industries, poultry, 
 bee keepers, etc. 
 
 Besides carrying on the work of practical organization, the society 
 prints and sends out numerous leaflets, and publishes a weekty paper 
 and an annual report. 
 
 The funds necessary for doing this work for Ireland's rural indus- 
 tries have come from the annual fees and direct contributions of the 
 affiliated societies and from subscriptions and donations of wealthy 
 friends of the movement on both sides of the Atlantic. The sum of 
 about $150,000 that has been expended by the society in the last seven 
 years is estimated to have resulted in an added gain of about $5,000,000 
 to the industry of the associated farmers, a besides developing the ener- 
 gies and business capacity of the people. Not the least of the benefits 
 arising from cooperation was the improvement of the Irish them- 
 selves; they learned to work together and exchange ideas among 
 themselves; they discussed and familiarized themselves with business 
 and agricultural methods, and in this way became better farmers, bet- 
 ter business men, and better citizens. While the politicians declaimed 
 against landlordism and saw the salvation of the country in political 
 measures only, the friends of cooperation showed that the aboli- 
 tion of rents could not make their farms more productive nor raise the 
 price of their produce. Foreign competition has rendered the position 
 of Ireland precarious even in the home markets. Modern principles 
 had revolutionized the methods of production elsewhere, but the Irish 
 remained stationary and clung to antiquated ways. The only thing to 
 do was to adopt up-to-date methods and try to regain their lost 
 advantages. Their attention was called to the remarkably prosperous 
 condition of Denmark, where cooperation had had full scope. Their 
 proximity to the great markets should inspire the Irish with hope of 
 even greater success than the Danes enjoyed. 
 
 a Annual report, Irish Agricultural Organization Society, 1902, Appendix III.
 
 30 
 
 BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF POULTRY SOCIETIES. 
 
 Soon other forms of cooperation were taken up, and in 1898 the 
 first cooperative poultry societies were organized, and several agricul- 
 tural societies went into the same line of work. In the beginning 
 they wisely decided to confine their operations to the sale of eggs and 
 not to take up for the time the more difficult work of fattening and 
 preparing poultry for the market. In the course of time they found 
 that a society could work to greater advantage on an extended scale, 
 and so the societies that were started in 1902 have, as a rule, a wider 
 area, a larger capital, a larger membership, and a larger business 
 than most of the societies formed prior to that time. 
 
 The fifty-six cooperative societies for the raising of poultry and the 
 sale of eggs are situated in the following nineteen counties: 
 
 County. 
 
 Number 
 of soci- 
 eties. 
 
 County. 
 
 Number 
 of soci- 
 eties. 
 
 Donegal 
 
 4 
 
 Kings .. . 
 
 1 
 
 Londonderry 
 
 3 
 
 Wieklow 
 
 2 
 
 Antrim 
 
 3 
 
 Waterford 
 
 1 
 
 Tvrone 
 
 4 
 
 Cork 
 
 5 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 1 
 
 Sligo 
 
 11 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 2 
 
 Kilkenny 
 
 1 
 
 
 4 
 
 Clare 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cavan 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Westmeath 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Monaghan 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 These societies are formed for the purpose of improving the breeds 
 of chickens and to enable the farmers to get a remunerative price for 
 their products by finding openings for the sale of eggs and poultry. 
 The shares are 5s. each, and the farmer must take one share for every 
 25 chickens in his possession. 
 
 The growth of these societies in number and volume of business 
 appears from the following table: 
 
 Year. 
 
 Number 
 of 
 societies. 
 
 Value of 
 business. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Number 
 of 
 
 societies. 
 
 Value of 
 business. 
 
 1898 
 
 3 
 
 
 1901 
 
 29 
 
 $81, 120 
 
 1899 
 
 16 
 
 ft;s tiis 
 
 1902 
 
 31 
 
 145,576 
 
 1900 
 
 - 21 
 
 46, 110 
 
 1903 
 
 56 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The volume of business grew regularly from $38,698 in 1899 to 
 $145,576 in 1902. Thus it appears that the business of the societies 
 in 1902 was twice as large as that of 1901. more than three times as 
 largo as that of 1900, and nearly four times as large as that of 1899. 
 This business refers only to societies registered as "poultry societies"
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 31 
 
 and leaves out of account the trade in eggs and poultry done by agricul- 
 tural or dairy societies. The business of one of these societies alone 
 that of Windgap amounted in 1902 to $6,326. 
 
 It is encouraging 'to note that the membership as well as the busi- 
 ness of the poultry societies has grown from year to year. In 1902 
 the 31 societies had a membership of 5,906. 
 
 ORGANIZATION AND METHODS OF PROCEDURE. 
 
 The Irish Agricultural Organization Society has adopted the follow- 
 ing mode of procedure in establishing local poultry societies: First of 
 all the organizers distribute leaflets showing the advantages of coop- 
 eration and urging the farmers to form organizations. These leaflets 
 are sometimes in the form of questions and answers, and often lighted 
 up with quaint flashes of Irish humor. 
 
 LOCATION OF CENTRAL STATION. 
 
 When a society has been formed the Irish Agricultural Organization 
 Society sends an expert to give advice as to where to locate the central 
 station. It is essential that this be within easy access of a railway and 
 at the same time central and convenient to the district embraced by 
 the society. If possible it should either be a seaport town or a station 
 on a main line of railway, from which through rate can be had to 
 markets in Great Britian. 
 
 SUITABLE BUILDINGS. 
 
 If old buildings are not available a two-story building is erected, 
 with an earth floor, about 40 by 20 feet. The material is sometimes 
 stone or brick, but more often galvanized iron sheets lined with thin, 
 matched boarding. The upper story is divided into two rooms a 
 small one, 20 by 10 feet, to be used for a committee room, and a large 
 storeroom for wood, straw, wood wool, and other packing materials. 
 On the lower floor a small space is reserved for the office, and in the 
 remainder the eggs are tested, crated, and packed, and the poultry 
 killed, plucked, dressed, and packed. 
 
 In addition to the main building, there are usually smaller sheds for 
 housing the horses and sheltering the poultry that are fattened. The 
 society must necessarily have one or more horses, with complete sets 
 of harness and light vans for collecting the eggs and poultry and con- 
 veying them to the railway station or steamboat; an oil cover for each 
 van; several sets of scales and weights; testing and grading machines; 
 a set of plain carpenter's tools; a set of stencils and branding instru- 
 ments; and a set of account books. 
 
 BRANCH DEPOTS FOR COLLECTING EGGS. 
 
 In connection with the central station there should be established a 
 certain number of branches, or collecting depots. Five or six will
 
 32 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 probably be sufficient to begin with. They ought to be within carting 
 distance of the central station, as local rates on railways for short dis- 
 tances are high. All that is needed at local depots is a set of scales 
 and weights. Here the eggs are placed in large boxes with pasteboard 
 compartments and forwarded to the central station. 
 
 METHODS OF COLLECTING. 
 
 A man who is thoroughly familiar with the neighborhood is employed 
 to take charge of a horse and van. He works seventy hours a week 
 and collects twice a week on each round. He blows a horn at frequent 
 and regular intervals to give warning of his approach, in order that 
 the eggs may be in readiness when he arrives. When the lanes and 
 byways are badly kept and it is difficult to drive to the cottages, chil- 
 dren usually bring the eggs to the main road. The collector weighs 
 the eggs and pays for them at the current price for the day, and hands 
 the producer a duplicate statement of the transaction as a check to his 
 claim on the dividends at the end of the year. The collector must be 
 careful not to accept dirty eggs or he will have to bear the loss in 
 deductions made from his wages. 
 
 As the collectors carry no testing apparatus with them, they can 
 judge of the age of the eggs only by the appearance of the shells, but 
 by experience they soon become so expert in this that a stale or bad 
 egg seldom escapes their notice. Each egg, however, has the number 
 of the producer stamped on the end, so that a bad egg can always be 
 traced to the one who sells it. In the evening the collector surren- 
 ders at the station with his load of eggs the register of his purchases 
 and the balance of his cash for the day, and takes home with him a 
 new supply of boxes, straw, and cash, and a new register, so as to be 
 able to make an early start the next day. At the station the eggs are 
 weighed again at the earliest opportunity in order to ascertain whether 
 the weight agrees with the sum paid out, and the register of each 
 individual sale is credited to the members on the books of the society. 
 
 THE SORTING OF EGGS. 
 
 The eggs are, in the first place, graded, or sorted, into three classes, 
 according as they weigh 13, 15, or 17 pounds per great hundred (10 
 dozens). As the breeds improve the eggs become larger. The new 
 system of buying eggs by weight instead of by the dozen has brought 
 about this rational change. At Mallow, where there is a large coop- 
 erative poultry society, 50 per cent of the eggs in 1899 weighed 13 
 pounds, 30 per cent weighed 15 pounds, and 20 per cent weighed IT 
 pounds per groat hundred. Four years later 30 per cent weighed 
 14 pounds, 30 per cent weighed 16 pounds, and 20 per cent weighed 
 17 pounds. It is obvious that a dozen eggs of large size, if sold by 
 weight, bring more money and entitle the producer to a larger
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 33 
 
 share in the annual dividends than the same number of small ones. 
 So long as small egg's brought the same price as large ones there was 
 no inducement to market large ones, but as soon as the trade put a 
 premium on large-sized eggs it became profitable to have better breeds 
 of fowls for egg production. The demand for large eggs is now so 
 great that a great hundred of 17 pounds will sometimes command 
 fancy prices, and often run, especially in the winter, as high as $1 
 above eggs weighing li pounds per great hundred. 
 
 The eggs are graded and placed with the thick endup on perforated 
 trays ready for the testing machine. This testing apparatus consists 
 merely of a tin-lined box, at the bottom of which is a light. As the 
 trays are placed on top the light shines through the fresh eggs, while 
 the old and stale ones appear dark and cloudy. At this time the stamp 
 of the society is placed on each egg. 
 
 METHODS OF PACKING AND SHIPPING. 
 
 The British trade requires that the eggs shall be shipped in non- 
 returnable cases, each case holding three, six, or twelve long hundreds. a 
 Still, packers are advised not to put over six hundred in a box and to 
 have a partition in the middle, for cases that are too heavy often break 
 during shipment. The cheapest and lightest kinds of woods, there- 
 fore, are used for cases, such as deal, poplar, or lime. The boards are 
 sawed at local mills to the exact dimensions required for boxes and 
 stored at the stations. The cases are nailed together as they are 
 needed. For packing, either straw or wood wool is used. The best 
 straw is that of oats, but barley straw is sometimes used. The wood 
 wool is made from, one of the soft, resinous kinds of deal or fir. 
 Before using, the rosin is removed and the packing material is made 
 clean and dry so as not to injure or impart an} T odor to the eggs. The 
 eggs are packed in layers, with straw or wood wool between. Each 
 case contains but one grade of eggs. 
 
 On the lids are placed the following marks: "Irish eggs," "With 
 care," "This side up," " Keep dry," and on the ends are branded the 
 number of long hundreds and the net weight above the words "New- 
 laid Irish eggs." The case is now ready to be turned over to the 
 railway or steamship company for shipment to Great Britain. 
 
 TRANSFORMATION DUE TO POULTRY SOCIETIES. 
 
 CONDITIONS BEFORE ORGANIZATION OF POULTRY SOCIETIES. 
 
 Before the advent of the poultry societies the poultry industry in 
 Ireland was in no better condition than in many other countries where 
 the chickens are left to shift for themselves. The farmers were satis- 
 tied to sell small eggs and scrawny spring chickens to the local dealers 
 
 A long hundred is used in Ireland for great hundred=120 eggs. 
 7774 No. 6504 3
 
 34 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 at low prices. As little or no attention was given to the matter of 
 having good breeds, and the chickens were often kept until they were 
 ten 3 r ears old, they did not lay over one hundred eggs a year. Not 
 hatched at the right season nor properly cared for, they did not lay in 
 winter when the price was high. When the price was rising the 
 housewife held the eggs as long as she dared for the sake of the extra 
 gain and then sold them to what are called "higglers," or, in Ireland, 
 "egglers." The dealers held them still longer and sent them dirty 
 and unselected to the British market in musty straw and in cases that 
 had crossed the Channel more than once before with various contents. 
 No wonder many an Irishman was puzzled to know what became 
 of those eggs when they had reached this well-seasoned state. The 
 situation became such that the Irish eggs, compared with eggs from 
 the Continent, appeared in an unfavorable light and brought the 
 lowest price on the British market. 
 
 CHANGE IN METHODS OP PACKING DEMANDED. 
 
 In 1898 matters came to a crisis, when the merchants of Liverpool 
 and Glasgow, who had before handled Irish eggs, gave notice by cir- 
 cular that after a certain date the} r would buy only fresh eggs packed 
 in dry, clean straw or wood wool and in nonreturnable cases, such as 
 were used in the continental trade. The exporters, who could only 
 gain by the change, sided with the merchants, but the farmers' wives 
 continued as before to keep their eggs until they had a goodly number 
 on hand. This bad habit came near ruining an industry which other- 
 wise proved profitable to the country. The merchants refused to 
 yield, as they could get what they needed from a half dozen countries, 
 and had given the Irish this opportunity in order that they might 
 compete with the foreign imports. 
 
 PRESENT CONDITION OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. 
 
 What the poultry business or the egg trade of Ireland has been dur- 
 ing the last years can only be estimated, as there are as yet no avail- 
 able statistics on the subject. From the figures alread}^ given we 
 see that the egg trade of Ireland does not rank with that of Denmark, 
 but that a great improvement has been accomplished is evident, and 
 the interest shown in the work as well as the nearness of the country 
 to the great markets justifies the belief that it is destined to grow. 
 
 INSTRUCTION IN POULTRY KEEPING. 
 
 In the winter of 1902 courses of instruction in the practical manage- 
 ment of poultry societies were given at Dunboe, County Kerr}', and 
 at Dervock, County Antrim. These were preliminary courses, and 
 intended to satisfy the urgent demand for managers of newly formed 
 poultry societies. The following year the department of agriculture
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 35 
 
 and technical instruction for Ireland gave a special course of instruc- 
 tion in poultry keeping at the Albert Agricultural College, Glasnevin, 
 County Dublin. This course was designed for young men and women 
 wishing to obtain a practical training in poultry keeping or to qualify 
 themselves as itinerant instructors in poultry keeping. In order to 
 facilitate this instruction, poultry runs, on which are represented the 
 pure breeds of fowl, have been provided. Furthermore, the depart- 
 ment has announced that for the year 1903-04 it is prepared to approve 
 of the appointment of at least one instructor for each county of Ire- 
 land, provided a suitable one can be obtained. It outlines at the same 
 time the general plan, limits the pay, and prescribes the duties of the 
 instructors. This scheme of the department is published herewith in 
 full: 
 SCHEME FOR ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENT IN THE POULTRY-KEEPING INDUSTRY, 1903-04. 
 
 1. The department is prepared, provided a suitable instructor in poultry keeping 
 can be obtained, to approve of the appointment of at least one such person for each 
 county in Ireland. 
 
 2. The department will, as far as possible, assist county committees in obtaining 
 an instructor by supplying the names of persons qualified for the post. 
 
 3. Unless in exceptional circumstances the remuneration of the instructor shall 
 not exceed 2 [$9.73] per week, in addition to expenses of locomotion, which include 
 second-class railway fare, car hire when necessary, or a bicycle allowance of 2d. 
 [4 cents] per mile in lieu thereof. 
 
 4. The appointment of the instructor shall be determinable at any time by four 
 weeks' notice in writing on either side. 
 
 5. It will be the duty of the instructor to deliver courses of lectures on poultry 
 keeping, including the selection of breeds, the hatching and rearing of chickens, the 
 feeding and housing of poultry, and the marketing of the produce; to visit poultry 
 runs and give such advice as may be desired by poultry keepers; to inspect the egg- 
 distribution stations referred to in clause 12; to report to the department and to the 
 c-ounty committee regarding the progress of his or her work as may be required, and 
 generally to give his or her whole time towards promoting improvement in jKmltry 
 keeping in the county. 
 
 6. For this purpose the county should be divided into circuits, each comprising 
 not less than five centers. The instructor should work for at least four weeks in 
 each circuit, and deliver one lecture j>er week at each center during that time. The 
 instructor will, when invited to do so, visit, either on the day of the lecture or on 
 the following day, any of the poultry runs in the neighborhood, and give such infor- 
 mation on poultry keeping as the circumstances of the case may suggest. 
 
 The county committee alone are responsible for the selection of the centers and 
 the arrangement of lectures. No work of this nature should be undertaken by the 
 instructor, though it is desirable that he or she should be consulted. 
 
 7. It will l>e the duty of the county committee to select centers at which the lec- 
 tures will be given and to appoint a local committee, with an honorary secretary, at 
 each center, who should select the school and arrange for the hiring, lighting, and 
 warming of the room in which the lectures will be delivered. 
 
 It will also be the duty of the county committee to undertake the responsibility 
 of seeing that the instructor's time is fully and usefully employed. 
 
 The county committee shall keep a separate account of all expenditure under 
 this scheme, and shall furnish detailed statements of such expenditure as shall from 
 time to time be required by the department.
 
 36 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 8. Lectures should be arranged, whenever possible, to be given in schoolrooms, in 
 the evenings, and should be held in rural centers only. Towns and larger villages 
 should be avoided, as experience has shown that the greatest success attends those 
 lectures which are given in the rural parts of the county, especially when the lec- 
 tures are delivered in districts where the greatest number of those interested in 
 poultry keeping is to be found. The local committee at each center should be 
 responsible for appointing a representative chairman for each lecture, as well as for 
 the distribution of the short syllabus, which will be prepared by the lecturer as soon 
 as appointed. The local committee should undertake to have posters, which will be 
 supplied by the secretary of the county committee, effectively displayed throughout 
 the circuit. Each lecture should be followed by a discussion, during which iarmers 
 and others interested in poultry keeping will be invited to ask questions relative to 
 their business. 
 
 9. The lectures should commence early in autumn and be continued until the end 
 of the hatching season. If employed during the summer months, the instructor 
 should, during that season, visit poultry runs and inspect egg-distribution stations. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION OF SITTINGS OF EGGS OF PURE BREEDS. 
 
 Hens and ducks. 
 
 10. In counties where instruction in poultry keeping has been provided the de- 
 partment are prepared to sanction a limited number of premiums of 5 [$24.33] each, 
 being awarded to selected applicants who distribute at least sixty sittings of eggs; those 
 who distribute less will be paid in proportion to the number distributed. When 
 the demand for sittings is not pressing the owner may set eggs for his own use, but 
 such sittings will not count towards a premium. Applicants must agree to comply 
 with the following conditions: 
 
 (1) To keep one pure breed of hens only. In exceptional cases the department 
 may approve of more than one pure breed being kept, provided they are satisfied 
 that the selected person, houses, runs, birds, etc., are suitable. 
 
 (2) To sell or destroy any existing fowl on the farm of which the instructor or the 
 department may disapprove, and not to bring on the farm fowl of any description 
 without the approval of the instructor or of the department. 
 
 (3) To keep no male birds on the farm other than those used for stock purposes 
 of the breed or breeds of fowl approved of. 
 
 (4) When a premium is claimed for hens alone, to keep not less than 30 or more 
 than 60 of the selected breed. If the premium is claimed in respect of hens and 
 ducks, to keep not less than 20 or more than 60 hens or pullets of the selected breed, 
 and not less than 10 or more than 30 ducks of the selected breed. One cock or cock- 
 erel must be kept for every 10 hens or pullets, and 1 drake for every 6 ducks. 
 
 (5) To provide proper housing where such does not already exist, and in case of 
 two breeds being kept to provide a separate run for each to the satisfaction of the 
 instructor or the department. The run for any one flock of 30 birds will require to 
 be at least 300 square yards. 
 
 (6) To feed and care for the birds in such a manner and in such a way as the 
 instructor and the department may require. 
 
 (7) To supply sittings of eggs from these birds to any person in the county at Is. 
 [24 cents] per dozen, and to replace infertile eggs that are returned within one month 
 from the date on which they were sent out. 
 
 In special cases the department may sanction an increase in the price of eggs, 
 provided the county committee show sufficient reasons for so doing. 
 
 (8) To stamp all eggs given out with a stamp provided for the purpose by the 
 county committee. 
 
 (9) To keep in a special book, provided by the county committee, an accurate 
 record of all eggs laid and distributed. This book must be sent to the secretary of 
 the county committee or to the department when asked for by either of these bodies. 
 The books should be returned to the secretary of the county committee at the end 
 of the distributing season, which will commence on January 1 and terminate on 
 May 31. 
 
 (10) To permit the instructor or the department to inspect the birds at any time. 
 Any infringement of the above rules may entail the cancellation of the premium.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 37 
 
 11. An additional grant of 50 per cent of the actual cost, but in no case exceeding 
 2 [$9.73], may be made to the selected persons who provide themselves with 
 portable wooden fowl houses approved by the department. This will only apply to 
 persons that are taking up the scheme in 1903-04 for the first time. 
 
 Turkeys. 
 
 12. Premiums of 3 [$14.60] each may be offered to persons who are prepared to 
 comply with the following conditions: 
 
 ( 1 ) To keep one or more purebred American Bronze stock turkey cocks for the 
 service of turkey hens, the property of any persons residing in the county, at a fee 
 of 6d. [12 cents] per service. Each cock must serve 20 hens, exclusive of the owner's. 
 If a smaller number are served, the premium w r ill be proportionately reduced. The 
 turkey cock will be required to be at least 12 months old and not less than 23 pounds 
 in weight. 
 
 (2) To provide proper housing accommodation and to feed and care for the bird 
 or birds in such a manner as the instructor or the department may require. 
 
 (3) To keep in a special book, provided by the county committee, an accurate 
 record of services. This book must be sent to the secretary of the county committee 
 or to the department when required, but otherwise returned to the secretary of the 
 county committee at the end of the season, which will commence on January 1 and 
 terminate on May 31. 
 
 (4) To permit the instructor or the department to i aspect the birds at any time. 
 Any infringement of the above rules may entail the cancellation of the premium. 
 
 13. An applicant will be eligible for only one premium either for hens or for hens 
 and ducks combined, but he will, in addition, be eligible to hold a premium for tur- 
 keys. No premium, however, will be given for ducks alone. 
 
 One of the following breeds of hens and ducks must be selected: 
 
 Laying breed*. 
 Minorcas. White Leghorns. Brown Leghorns. 
 
 General-purpose breeds. 
 
 Houdans. Plymouth Rocks. Orpingtons. Faverolles. 
 
 Ducks. 
 
 Aylesbury. Rouen. Pekin. Indian Runner. 
 
 14. As soon as the instructor has been appointed and the number of premiums 
 proposed to be awarded has been approved of by the department, the county com- 
 mittee shall invite applications from persons in the county who already possess, or 
 are willing to purchase, hens of approved pure breeds of fowls or ducks, or to keep 
 one or more pure-bred turkey cocks, as above, and who are prepared to comply with 
 the above conditions. When these applications have been received the county 
 instructor in poultry keeping will, as soon as possible, inspect and report to the 
 county committee as to the number of suitable applicants. The names of the selected 
 applicants, with full particulars as to breeds, number of birds, and housing, should 
 then be submitted for the approval of the department, who may thereupon further 
 inspect the selected farms and submit a list of those of which they approve to the 
 county committee for their final selection. 
 
 15. The department will not consider applications from a county in respect of pre- 
 miums under this scheme later than December 1, 1903. 
 
 On account of the difficulty of procuring stock birds of pure breeds late in the 
 season, it is recommended that^county committees who intend to adopt this scheme 
 should, if possible, have all arrangements completed prior to January 1, 1904. 
 
 16. Not later than June 10 the selected applicants for premiums should forward 
 to the secretary of the county committee the record books referred to in clauses 10 
 (9) and 12, accompanied by a statutory declaration certifying that the entries in
 
 38 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 these books are correct and that all the conditions of this scheme have been com- 
 plied with. 
 
 As soon as the department is satisfied as to the fulfillment of the conditions of this 
 scheme, the secretary of the county committee will be notified that payment may be 
 made by the committee of the premiums or part premiums payable under this 
 scheme. 
 
 Forms for the declaration required by this clause may be had[ on application to the 
 secretary of the county committee. 
 
 17. No action shall be taken by the county committee towards putting this scheme, 
 or any part thereof, into operation until the sanction of the department has been 
 obtained in writing. 
 
 FRANCE. 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF POULTRY. 
 
 The earliest census of French poultry was taken in 1862 and has 
 been followed by those of 1882 and 1892. In this period of thirty 
 years the number of chickens has risen successively from 42,851,790 
 (1862) to 47,601,284 (1882) and to 54,102,985 (1892). The census of 
 1902 is not yet issued, but at the same percentage of increase the num- 
 ber of chickens for that year should amount to over 60,000,000. The 
 census is taken near the end of the year (November 30) and gives what 
 may be considered a constant figure, rising gradually from year to 
 year. If taken earlier in the year, the census would no doubt show 
 greater fluctuations. By the end of November the spring and summer 
 stock are presumably sold off and the remainder is kept mainly for 
 breeding and laying purposes. 
 
 Number and value of French poultry as given by the census returns of 1862, 1882, and 1892. 
 
 
 18< 
 
 >2. 
 
 18 
 
 32. 
 
 18 
 
 92. 
 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Number. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Chickens 
 
 42, 851, 790 
 
 810 917, 967 
 
 47 601 284 
 
 $17 623 257 
 
 54, 102, 985 
 
 819,265 256 
 
 Geese ... 
 
 3, 881, 557 
 
 2,794 294 
 
 3,938 405 
 
 3, 609, 031 
 
 3, 519, 741 
 
 3 075,654 
 
 Ducks .... 
 
 3 610,841 
 
 1,219,651 
 
 4, 184, 250 
 
 1,799,888 
 
 3 683, 727 
 
 1,525,904 
 
 Turkeys 
 
 1,760,506 
 
 1,726,070 
 
 2, 095, 697 
 
 2, 214, 867 
 
 1,968,142 
 
 1,974,688 
 
 Guinea fowls. 
 
 
 
 271,637 
 
 166,%1 
 
 300, 509 
 
 200,911 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This industry is distributed more generally than any other over the 
 entire country. While the mountain tracts of the south and south- 
 east are rather scantity supplied, poultry is grown considerably in the 
 eastern and northern Departments." As might be expected, owing to 
 the nearness of the great markets of London and Paris, poultry a bounds 
 in the Departments between Paris and the English Channel. 
 
 The Departments of France best supplied with poultry seem, on the 
 one hand, to lie on a broad strip extending from Manche and the neigh - 
 
 See Geographic Agricole de la France et du Monde, by .1. Dn Plessis de Grenedan, 
 p. 215 ff.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 39 
 
 boring Departments south to the base of the Pyrenees. Another strip 
 commences in the southeast and winds about Paris on the south and 
 west as far as the Belgian frontier, taking in the Departments of Eure, 
 Seine-Inferieure, Oise, Aisne, Somme, Pas-de-Calais, and Nord. The 
 greatest number per acre exists in the Department of Seine, in which 
 the capital (Paris) is located. 
 
 The following table will give some idea of the number of poultry 
 per acre in different parts of the country in 1892: 
 
 Per acre. 
 
 Per acre. 
 
 Seine 3. 26 Sarthe 0. 47 
 
 Nord 1. 14 I Mayenne 44 
 
 Somme 1.07 
 
 Saone-et-Loire 97 
 
 Rhin (Haut) 61 
 
 Ille-et-Vilaine . . .51 
 
 Pas-de-Calais 425 
 
 Pyrnees-Orientales 36 
 
 Var 26 
 
 Alpes-Maritirnes 18 
 
 In the course of time France has developed several excellent breeds 
 of chickens which are considered eminently adapted to the country. 
 The most famous breeds are La Bresse, Houdan, Crevecreur, Fleche, 
 and Faverolles. La Bresse breed abounds at Bourg in Ain and 
 Louhans in Saone-et-Loire; Houdans at Hurepoix; Crevecoeurs in the 
 valley of the Auge; and La Fleche in Maine. The last named furnish 
 the well-known poulards of Le Mans. 
 
 Ducks are found in great numbers in the western marshes, in the 
 southwestern plains along the ocean, and particularly in Perigord, in 
 the Charentes, and upper Poitou. 
 
 Geese are found in great numbers in Armagnac, lower Auvergne, 
 le Bourbonnais, and La Bresse. Many are also raised in Poitou, where 
 their livers are used in manufacturing pate de foie gras (a pie made 
 of fat goose livers). 
 
 Turkeys thrive on higher ground away from the sea. They are 
 found in considerable numbers on the plains of the Garonne, beyond 
 Bordelais, as well as in middle and eastern France. 
 
 THE CONDITIONS OF PRODUCTION. 
 
 France contains a great number of farms and small holdings. The 
 census of 1892 states that there are 5,702,752 small holdings or farms. 
 The great advantage of this system of small holdings is that the land 
 is in the hands of the maximum number of proprietors and is able to 
 support a very large rural population. The small size of the holdings 
 compels the peasants to resort to intensive cultivation, and thus to 
 make the most out of their land. Where an Englishman would emi- 
 grate to America or to the colonies and go into farming on a large 
 scale, the French peasant would win a living by this intensive cultiva- 
 tion and thus be able to stay in his own country. The necessity of 
 obtaining good results from small holdings of land has developed a 
 large class of skilled farmers what we might call agricultural arti-
 
 40 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 sans. These conditions have produced the qualities of patience and 
 skill and an almost fastidious care in the tilling of their small farms. 
 The work is often laborious and not very remunerative, but they are 
 able in this way to remain in France. 
 
 The average number of chickens per holding or farm is 9.48. Leav- 
 ing out of account the State lands and the woods and forests, the cul- 
 tivated area amounts to 34,720,200 hectares (85,797,614 acres), and 
 gives 1.56 chickens per hectare, or 0.63 per acre. The number of per- 
 sons who owned or rented the land they tilled was 4,814,870 in 1892. 
 They raised an average of 11.24 chickens. 
 
 France is an agricultural country and produces an abundance of 
 grain. The soil and climate are favorable to the keeping of poultiy 
 and the production of eggs. The subdivision of the land into numer- 
 ous farms and small holdings has a tendency to enlarge the industry, 
 and the nearness to London and Paris insures ready markets. 
 
 The care of the poultry is mostly in the hands of the farmer's wife. 
 She looks to the comfort of her fowls and feeds them scraps and warm 
 mashes. The equal of the French peasant wife in industry and skill- 
 ful management is not found in any other country. The large amount 
 of money paid by Great Britain for French butter and eggs in excess 
 of those of other nations is a direct tribute to the skill and industry of 
 the French menage res. They fear no rivalry from the English, as 
 the English ladies will never condescend to this necessity; but the}' 
 feel some anxiety as to whether the} 7 can keep the market from the 
 Danes and the Russians. 
 
 The French eggs are large and brown and have an excellent flavor, 
 and, being sorted, packed, and presented in the most attractive way, 
 they bring the highest price in the English market. (See table on 
 p. 426.) The largest eggs come from Picardy. Besides the extra 
 size of the Picard eggs being about as large as ordinary turkey eggs 
 they are considered to be of finer flavor and quality than those from 
 other parts. The Normandy eggs come next. 
 
 Poultry raising is an important industry in Brittany. The cost of 
 food, which consists principally of skim milk and barley meal, is not 
 great. In fattening a simple device is used, it being a circular fattening 
 pen of several tiers on a central pivot and an automatic "crammer." 
 A woman is usually employed at this work at a cost of about 30 cents 
 per day. 
 
 The eggs and poultry are collected at the local fairs and markets, 
 and even at the farmhouses, by the dealer's cart as it goes on its 
 weekly round. The eggs are packed for shipment in long, flat cases 
 holding 60 do/ens and which are easy to handle. 
 
 The Breton peasant himself is not a consumer of eggs, but he holds 
 them for the collector, who in turn sells them to the local merchant, 
 and finally the, eggs find their way to St. Malo. In 1896 there were
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 41 
 
 exported from Cherbourg, Granville, Barfleur, and St. Malo 8,830 
 tons of eggs and 267 tons of fowls. 
 
 METHOD OF COLLECTING EGGS AT ST. MALO. 
 
 An important point in the egg industry is to bring the eggs to 
 market in a fresh state. As a rule, a farmer does not find it worth 
 his while to make an extra trip to town to deliver eggs, and if he does 
 not happen to go to town the eggs remain at home to become stale, or 
 are pickled for the winter, and in either case are sold at a reduced 
 price. A British consul reports a simple plan of marketing eggs 
 which is followed by the people in the vicinity of St. Malo, France. 
 Women and bo}^s collect the eggs at the farmhouses and cottages, pay 
 for them in readv monev, and take them to the nearest collector, who 
 
 / / 7 
 
 gives them an additional cent a dozen for their work. He either 
 packs them himself or sends them to the packer at St. Malo. By this 
 method several people make a living with little or no outlay, $5 to 
 pay for the eggs and a light wooden crate, carried by means of a 
 webbing over the shoulders like a knapsack, being all they require. 
 By this method the eggs arrive fresh on the market and bring a higher 
 price than when they are kept long and delivered in a stale condition. 
 The farmers and cottagers know that it is to the interest of the woman 
 or boy to come at fixed dates, and they are glad to be saved all expense 
 and risk of sale. Any man well known in the vicinity can start this 
 method of collection by employing old men and bo}^s. If a collector 
 purchases even 50 dozen eggs in a day, his pay is 50 cents, and he is 
 thus insured a pretty fair living. 
 
 PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF POULTRY. 
 
 The census taken on November 30, 1892, gives the number of 
 chickens as 54,102,985. The stock was at this time near the minimum 
 number after the slaughter of the summer stock. What proportion 
 this number is to the total when the flocks were most numerous there 
 are no data to determine. The Statistique Agricole, Resultats Gene- 
 raux de TKnquete Decennalede 1892, page 315, suggests the following 
 method: The writer assumes that the total stock of the country remains 
 nearl}' constant from year to year, and that the average life of a chicken 
 is one year and a half. Dividing the census total by one and a half he 
 obtains 36,068,650 as the number of chickens consumed annuall}". In 
 other words, the number killed in each year is equivalent to the new 
 crop of the season. Thus a farmer having 150 chickens would on the 
 average dispose of 100 a year. The writer does not state on what 
 observations he bases his method. 
 
 At present the proportion of poultry consumed during the year is 
 greater than it was in 1892, but that is no doubt due to the rise in the
 
 42 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 price of meat. The exports of poultry give only a small fraction of 
 the total product of the poultry yard. To this we must add not only 
 the number that is sold in the towns and cities, but also that con- 
 sumed in the country itself by the producers. But what the percent- 
 age of each one of these items may be is not easy to ascertain. 
 
 THE POSSIBILITIES OF IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 Although the poultry industry is probably better organized in 
 France than in most other countries, yet much could be done to 
 improve existing conditions. More effective organization will prob- 
 ably be introduced, this being necessary in order to compete success- 
 fully with a country like Denmark, which has most thorough organi- 
 zation. France has natural advantages in the climate, soil, aptitude 
 of the people for this work, and proximity to great markets, both 
 domestic and foreign. 
 
 The Danish cooperative system has been introduced into France only 
 to a limited extent, but many are urging its adoption. 
 
 IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF POULTRY. 
 
 The imports and exports of live poultry are not large, both amount- 
 ing to only about half a million dollars a year. The trade in dead 
 poultry, on the other hand, is more important and amounts to over 
 $2,000,000 a } 7 ear. The exports exceed the imports five or six times. 
 
 Ireland supplies only her own demands. Denmark is obliged to 
 import for her own use, and the same is the case with the other neigh- 
 boring countries. Of the more remote countries Russia is the largest 
 exporter to England, the value of the exports amounting to $800,529 
 in 1898. Canada and Italy also ship large quantities. The quality of 
 this poultry is not the best, and the freezing or cold storage resorted 
 to in transporting them to great distances does not improve their 
 flavor. Under these conditions it would not be as profitable for the 
 French to compete in the same grade of exports. Cheap trade is not 
 the most profitable. The extra expense entailed in producing a fine 
 quality is trifling, while it of ten doubles the price in the market. The 
 total exports of Russian poultry amount to a large sum, but the net 
 gain is probably small. The French exports are not so large, but the 
 profits are large. The Mans and Bresse pullets, owing to their supe- 
 rior quality, make the industry profitable. For this reason they have 
 no ambition to vie with Russia in the quantity of their exports, and 
 only seek to develop this high-class trade this commerce de luxe 
 which they now possess and which is so profitable. The}' devote their 
 skill to producing poultry of exquisite quality and Havor, and the 
 great success of the French at the annual poultry exhibitions held in 
 the Agricultural Hall, London, is evidence of the merit of their 
 products.
 
 POULTRY AND EGOS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 43 
 
 Its nearness to London gives Fiance an advantage over its competi- 
 tors. Most of the poultry and eggs that are exported come from the 
 north of France, which has excellent facilities for shipping into Eng- 
 land. For example, the Western Railway of France sends five days 
 in the week the so-called " butter train," which gathers butter, eggs, 
 and poultry along the route and arrives at Cherbourg at 5 in the even- 
 ing. Steamers leave at 11.30 in the night and tlje train arrives in 
 London in the early morning. Thus eggs collected in France may be 
 had in London the next morning. 
 
 The east counties of England used to produce a great many turkeys, 
 but the consumption there has now exceeded the production, and Eng- 
 land has recourse to France, Italy, and Canada. France ships two 
 kinds of turkeys the Sologne and the Normandy. The meat of the 
 latter is more tender, has a better flavor, and brings a somewhat higher 
 price in the market. French turkeys are slaughtered after fasting 
 twenty-four hours, and then packed in clean, returnable cases; they 
 reach the market in perfect condition. 
 
 Goose is the traditional Christmas bird of the English, and at this 
 joyous season the English consume them in enormous quantities. The 
 supply comes almost altogether from France, and during Christmas 
 week London alone consumes from 100,000 to 150,000 French geese. 
 The Department of Sarthe occupies the first place in the production of 
 geese. These are of medium weight and much relished. The huge 
 Toulouse geese are not in so great demand. In recent years the tend- 
 ency has been to raise geese weighing from 9 to 12 pounds. English 
 buyers complain that they can not in England or Ireland obtain 500 
 geese of uniform weight, while they can buy 5,000 in France and have 
 them delivered on a certain date. Two hundred English geese would 
 vaiy in weight from 6 to 16 pounds. 
 
 FRENCH EXPORTS OF EGGS. 
 
 The French exports of eggs (see pp. 453, 454) show a considerable 
 decline during the " nineties," and several explanations of this fact have 
 been offered. Some have assumed that with the introduction of the 
 cooperative methods eggs of better quality have been produced else- 
 where, and that these have forced a great number of the French eggs 
 out of the market and taken their place. That the eggs of other coun- 
 tries have replaced the French eggs on some markets does not prove 
 the superiority of the former is easily shown by the fact that the 
 French eggs have now, as well as heretofore, brought the highest 
 prices in the foreign markets. They are large, brown, and of excel- 
 lent flavor, being in especial favor with the wealth y. The great quan- 
 tity of cheaper eggs that enter the English markets is consumed by 
 a very large class of people who can not afford to use the French 
 product.
 
 44 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 The cooperative method has done a great deal to increase the pro- 
 duction and quality of eggs, but, after all deductions are made, such 
 methods can not produce a favorable climate or soil or deprive the 
 French peasant's wife of her native industry and skill. Others have 
 supposed that the Italian exports to southern France have been 
 replaced by French eggs, and that many of the Italian eggs that 
 formerly went to Great Britain by way of France have in recent years 
 passed through Belgium. The statistics, however, do not bear out 
 this statement, as the imports from Italy into France have grown 
 slightly instead of decreasing. When we examine the table of exports 
 of French eggs, we see that the decline is not confined to one } 7 ear or 
 even to recent years, but covers a period of some twenty years. The 
 explanation of the decline in 1897 then must be taken, not as a separate 
 instance, but in connection with a cause of long duration, with a regular 
 decline that has operated since about 1880. 
 
 In order the better to understand the course that the export trade 
 of French eggs has taken, it will be important to discuss the rise of 
 this trade. 
 
 The exportation of French eggs seems to have commenced about 
 1830 fifty years before any other county seriously thought of this 
 source of income. England has been the chief market and France 
 has the advantage of being near by. As early as 1838 the exports of 
 French eggs to all countries had a value of 5,000,000 francs. During 
 the five years of 1838 to 1842 the average annual exports of French 
 eggs amounted to 5,600,000 francs. The highest point was reached in 
 1875, when they amounted to 34,417,000 kilos and were valued at 
 46,463,000 francs, or 1.35 francs (26 cents) per kilo. This amount is 
 about twice that of 1897. The great bulk goes to England, only a 
 mere fraction being sent to other countries. 
 
 Previous to 1880, for some fort} r or fifty years, France had undis- 
 puted supremacy in the egg markets of England. Other countries 
 of large production exported elsewhere. For instance, Italy sent her 
 eggs to Germany, France, and Switzerland; Russia exported to Ger- 
 many. An idea of what these countries were exporting in 1880 may 
 be had from the following table: 
 
 Exports of eggs from leading countries in 1880. 
 
 Country of export. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 France 
 
 . . kilos 
 
 21,413,932 
 250,969 
 127,047,000 
 
 Dozens. 
 "35,689,887 
 41,828,162 
 10,587,250 
 
 Dollars. 
 5, 885, 044 
 8, 072, 835 
 929,060 
 816, 969 
 520,483 
 
 Italy 
 
 
 Russia 
 
 
 Belgium 
 
 
 Denmark 
 
 scores.. 
 
 1,992,055 
 
 3,320,092 
 
 
 
 "About.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 45 
 
 France first found Italy as a competitor in the English market in 
 1883, and since that date large quantities of Italian eggs reach England 
 by way of Belgium. Russia appears to have entered this market about 
 1883, when she sent 67,460 dozens. 
 
 WHY FRANCE HAD LED IN EGG EXPORTS. 
 
 The preponderance of French eggs in the English market is to 
 some extent due to the fact already stated, that the country is very 
 favorably located as regards the English market, but it is due prin- 
 cipally to the fact that the French were the first to organize this 
 industry. Other countries were geographically as near England then 
 as now, and could have taken much of the trade had the industry been 
 better developed among them. So long, however, as the methods of 
 transportation were comparatively undeveloped, it was hardly possible 
 to ship eggs from Russia, Italy, or the Balkan States, but Ireland, Bel- 
 gium, Holland, Denmark, and Germany were as favorably situated as 
 many parts of France. 
 
 The situation was that the British market demanded a good and clean 
 supply, and the French had the skill and aptitude to satisfy that 
 demand. The English were the best customers for eggs in Europe, 
 and during the decade between 1880 and 1890 the different European 
 countries, one by one, entered this market with ever-increasing imports; 
 but France continued easily as first. In the next decade the struggle 
 became more acute. Denmark had in the meanwhile perfected a 
 cooperative system for this industry, and other countries had adopted 
 similar improvements. With improved methods of collecting, pack- 
 ing, and transporting, a larger area was taken in and could compete 
 in the best markets. This stimulated local prices and at the same time 
 increased the exports. 
 
 In the twent} 7 years following 1880 Denmark increased her egg 
 exports to England sixfold; Russia between 1888 and 1901 increased 
 hers threefold. In the face of this competition it is not to be expected 
 that France could make a successful stand for any length of time. 
 The Danish exports to England are increasing from year to year, as 
 are those from other continental lands, but up to almost the close of 
 the ecu tiny France was the largest exporter of oggs to England, and 
 she held the trade of London almost exclusively. In 1897 the French 
 exports were surpassed by Russia in volume though not in value. 
 The Belgian and German exports are also larger, but as those exports 
 in reality conic from other countries, such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, 
 the Balkan States, and Italy, they should not be considered as the 
 product of the countries exporting them. They are, in fact, reexports 
 from the countries named. 
 
 Thus we see that a constantly growing improvement in the methods 
 of collecting, packing, and shipping, and a better knowledge of the
 
 46 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 
 
 principles of the cooperative system have enlarged the area of the com- 
 petitive trade and resulted in an enormous increase in the exports of 
 eggs from the agricultural countries. 
 
 The development of the industry in countries like Denmark, Russia, 
 and Hungary brings about large exports from those places, and nat- 
 urally so; but it is difficult to understand why the French exports are 
 decreasing, especially since the demand of the English market is con- 
 stantly growing. Since 1880, for instance, the imports into the 
 United Kingdom have grown threefold from 62,284,050 dozens to 
 189,667,950 dozens in 1902. One of the reasons for this decline of 
 French exports, it has been stated, is that -the consumption by the 
 people of France has increased more rapidly than production. Better 
 prices are now obtained in Paris than could be obtained in London. 
 Moreover, this trade is not so profitable as it has been not so profit- 
 able as other kinds of exports. 
 
 The following table shows the imports and exports of eggs for the 
 years of 1877 to 1902, inclusive. The table also shows the exporting 
 
 country : 
 
 Imports and exports of French eggs, 1877 to 1902. a 
 
 [From Tableau Decennal du Commerce de la France, 1877-1896; Tableau General du Commerce, 
 
 1896-1902.] 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 From 
 
 1877. 
 
 1878. 
 
 1879. 
 
 1880. 
 
 1881. 
 
 1882. 
 
 Germany 
 
 Kilograms. 
 311,765 
 
 Kilograms. 
 457,314 
 
 Kilograms. 
 445, 667 
 
 Kilograms. 
 624,639 
 
 Kilograms. 
 514,423 
 
 Kilograms. 
 868, 357 
 
 Belgium 
 
 1 , 597, 518 
 
 1,761,648 
 
 1,877,121 
 
 2, 055, 292 
 
 2,365,041 
 
 2,158,495 
 
 A ustria 
 
 195,017 
 
 89, 480 
 
 350, 679 
 
 346, 846 
 
 97,441 
 
 270, 467 
 
 Italy 
 
 3 789 918 
 
 3 551 625 
 
 4 532 169 
 
 3 966 376 
 
 4, 135 631 
 
 4 497,606 
 
 Other countries 
 
 172 642 
 
 447 313 
 
 277, 093 
 
 163,866 
 
 139 217 
 
 324 093 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 6 066 860 
 
 7 482 729 
 
 7,482 729 
 
 7 157 018 
 
 7 251,756 
 
 8 119 018 
 
 Value 
 
 $1,639 266 
 
 81,643,390 
 
 81,949 625 
 
 81 864,761 
 
 81,889,445 
 
 $2,193 759 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 1883. 
 
 1884. 
 
 1885. 
 
 1886. 
 
 1887. 
 
 Germany 
 
 Kilograms. 
 1,049,397 
 
 Kilograms. 
 \ , 326, 839 
 
 Kilograms. 
 861,208 
 
 Kilograms. 
 937,114 
 
 Kilograms. 
 49iJ, 070 
 
 Belgium 
 
 2,871 593 
 
 2 793 331 
 
 3 168 574 
 
 3,011,938 
 
 3 362,547 
 
 Austria 
 
 316,889 
 
 179, 138 
 
 326, 347 
 
 236, 762 
 
 135, 431 
 
 Italy 
 
 4,087,722 
 
 3,925 376 
 
 4,163,064 
 
 4,665,486 
 
 3, 858, 552 
 
 Turkey 
 
 
 
 
 
 299, 122 
 
 Other countries 
 
 191 991 
 
 306 293 
 
 938 917 
 
 304 473 
 
 561 820 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 8 517,592 
 
 8 630 977 
 
 9 098 110 
 
 9 145 773 
 
 8 700 542 
 
 Value 
 
 82 383 648 
 
 $2 387 394 
 
 82 370 513 
 
 82 206 118 
 
 82 016 046 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In France it is estimated that, on an average, 20 eggs equal 1 kilogram = 2.20 |>ounds.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 47 
 
 Imports and exports of French eggs, 1877 to 1902 Continued. 
 IMPORTS Continued. 
 
 From 
 
 1888. 
 
 1889. 
 
 1890. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 
 
 Germany 
 
 Kilograms. 
 775, 421 
 
 Kilograms. 
 724, 143 
 
 Kilograms. 
 932, 471 
 
 Kilograms. 
 873, 425 
 
 Kilograms. 
 556,885 
 
 Belgium 
 
 3 251,998 
 
 2, 827, 718 
 
 3,523 323 
 
 3,898 042 
 
 3 082 140 
 
 Austria 
 
 297, 514 
 
 645, 583 
 
 561,128 
 
 618, 792 
 
 134,446 
 
 Italy 
 
 2, 020, 2<>8 
 
 1,122,749 
 
 996,534 
 
 1,003,389 
 
 1,387,451 
 
 Turkey 
 
 482, 897 
 
 1,102,211 
 
 1,904,688 
 
 1,852,110 
 
 928, 192 
 
 Other countries 
 
 933, 625 
 
 1,191,125 
 
 1,299,023 
 
 1 347 622 
 
 396 634 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 7 761,753 
 
 7 613 529 
 
 9 217 167 
 
 9 593 380 
 
 6 485 748 
 
 Value ... .... 
 
 $1,797,622 
 
 $1, 763, 293 
 
 82,134,696 
 
 81,646,374 
 
 81,152 110 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 1893. 
 
 1894. 
 
 1895. 
 
 1896. 
 
 1897. 
 
 Russia 
 
 JfHograms. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 2, 513, 794 
 
 Germany 
 
 833,845 
 
 1,035,661 
 
 384,826 
 
 517,661 
 
 346, 659 
 
 
 3, 038, 887 
 
 3 718 348 
 
 3 679 927 
 
 3,967 524 
 
 4 306 976 
 
 
 387, 171 
 
 637,909 
 
 421,641 
 
 469 296 
 
 436 400 
 
 Italy 
 
 1,505,405 
 
 2, 980, 369 
 
 1,756,962 
 
 1 788 236 
 
 2,240 077 
 
 Turkey 
 
 599, 692 
 
 1,419,990 
 
 1,648,891 
 
 1,708,513 
 
 1,827,072 
 
 Egypt 
 
 
 
 
 
 152, 039 
 
 Tripoli 
 
 
 
 
 
 129, 300 
 
 Other countries 
 
 276, 693 
 
 1,071,519 
 
 1,410,667 
 
 1,817,012 
 
 145,773 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 6,641,693 
 
 10, 863, 796 
 
 9, 302, 914 
 
 10, 268, 242 
 
 12, 097, 990 
 
 Value 
 
 $1,299,793 
 
 82,044,295 
 
 81,540,507 
 
 82, 009, 516 
 
 82, 294, 751 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 From 
 
 1898. 
 
 1899. 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 Russia 
 
 Kilograms. 
 2,199,097 
 
 Ktiograms. 
 2, 562, 282 
 
 Kilograms. 
 3, 506, 087 
 
 Kilograms. 
 3, 728, 292 
 
 Kilograms. 
 4,306,348 
 
 Germany 
 
 1,348,769 
 
 862,699 
 
 808,062 
 
 960,044 
 
 1,444,488 
 
 Belgium 
 
 5, 229, 882 
 
 5,249,193 
 
 4,905,463 
 
 4,827,306 
 
 5,137,094 
 
 Austria 
 
 534,618 
 
 289,884 
 
 228,310 
 
 472, 832 
 
 1,008,127 
 
 Italy 
 
 2, 453, 542 
 
 2, 942, 981 
 
 2, 368, 502 
 
 2, 373, 188 
 
 2, 645, 862 
 
 Turkey 
 
 2, 007, 358 
 
 2,034,499 
 
 2, 649, 254 
 
 3, 249, 930 
 
 4,494,952 
 
 Egypt 
 
 312,270 
 
 267, 0% 
 
 543, 267 
 
 208, 542 
 
 154,406 
 
 Tripoli 
 
 103,919 
 
 
 
 
 
 Other countries 
 
 a^, 016 
 
 212, 708 
 
 289, 942 
 
 491,122 
 
 980,534 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 14,544,471 
 
 14,421,342 
 
 15, 298, 887 
 
 16,311,256 
 
 20, 171 811 
 
 Value .. 
 
 $2, 977, 754 
 
 83, 082, 804 
 
 83, 408, 579 
 
 $3, 560, 470 
 
 84, 251 , 330 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 48 
 
 BUREAU OV ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 Imports and ex-ports of French eggs, 1877 to 1902 Continued. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 To 
 
 1877. 
 
 1878. 
 
 1879. 
 
 1880. 
 
 1881. 
 
 1882. 
 
 England 
 
 Kilograms. 
 26, 194, 976 
 
 Kilograms. 
 25, 619, 930 
 
 Kilograms. 
 22, 886, 698 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20, 786, 472 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20,442 753 
 
 Kilograms. 
 18,948,871 
 
 Germany 
 
 192, 381 
 
 197, 308 
 
 174, 742 
 
 149, 187 
 
 143, 003 
 
 126,195 
 
 Belgium 
 
 429, 571 
 
 234,383 
 
 236, 521 
 
 121,030 
 
 153, 372 
 
 182, 318 
 
 Spain 
 
 15,790 
 
 50,211 
 
 227,860 
 
 40, 860 
 
 14,198 
 
 26, 392 
 
 
 237, 942 
 
 243, 366 
 
 240 292 
 
 272, 659 
 
 265 061 
 
 268, 379 
 
 Other countries 
 
 51,375 
 
 48, 737 
 
 37, 295 
 
 43, 724 
 
 34 048 
 
 58,993 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 27 122 035 
 
 26,393 735 
 
 23 803 408 
 
 21 413 932 
 
 21 052 435 
 
 19 611 148 
 
 Value 
 
 $7 328,374 
 
 86, 876, 940 
 
 84, 363, 859 
 
 $5,786 044 
 
 $5 688 368 
 
 85, 488, 180 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 1883. 
 
 1884. 
 
 1885. 
 
 1886. 
 
 1887. 
 
 England 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20 180,963 
 
 Kilograms. 
 19, 944, 154 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20,294 977 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20,472 314 
 
 Kilograms. 
 21 968 988 
 
 Germany 
 
 108, 196 
 
 103, 174 
 
 102, 908 
 
 96 741 
 
 
 Belgium . . . 
 
 194 911 
 
 262, 655 
 
 372, 704 
 
 271,809 
 
 227, 131 
 
 Spain .. 
 
 412,172 
 
 170, 458 
 
 255, 723 
 
 187, 605 
 
 208, 407 
 
 Switzerland 
 
 274, 326 
 
 311,838 
 
 330, 706 
 
 312, 181 
 
 377, 120 
 
 Other countries 
 
 168,309 
 
 80,670 
 
 109, 235 
 
 102,917 
 
 213, 406 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity . . 
 
 21,338,877 
 
 20, 872, 949 
 
 21,466,253 
 
 21,443 567 
 
 22, 995, 052 
 
 Value 
 
 85,971,685 
 
 85,841,295 
 
 85, 593, 032 
 
 85, 173, 261 
 
 85, 325, 654 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 1888. 
 
 1889. 
 
 1890. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 
 
 England. . 
 
 Kilograms. 
 18, 368, 557 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20,657 282 
 
 Kilograms. 
 21 098 520 
 
 Kilograms. 
 22, 286, 231 
 
 Kilograms. 
 22 313 928 
 
 Belgium 
 
 80, 791 
 
 120, 172 
 
 150, 887 
 
 211,049 
 
 141,258 
 
 Spain 
 
 784,414 
 
 977, 503 
 
 861,933 
 
 951,676 
 
 415, 795 
 
 Switzerland 
 
 345 517 
 
 333 795 
 
 352 493 
 
 368 265 
 
 353 618 
 
 Other countries 
 
 203 510 
 
 194 067 
 
 215 646 
 
 199 499 
 
 358 630 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 19, 782, 789 
 
 22, 282, 819 
 
 22 679,479 
 
 24 016,720 
 
 23 583,236 
 
 Value 
 
 84 581 694 
 
 85 160 701 
 
 85 252 567 
 
 84 121 644 
 
 84 189 260 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 To 
 
 1893. 
 
 1894. 
 
 1895. 
 
 1896. 
 
 1897. 
 
 England 
 
 Kilograms. 
 24,500 582 
 
 Kilograms. 
 12 755 098 
 
 Kilograms. 
 16 999 013 
 
 Kilograms. 
 ''1 467 453 
 
 Kilograms. 
 17 126 299 
 
 (iermimv 
 
 
 
 
 
 84 733 
 
 Belgium 
 
 56 434 
 
 41 147 
 
 49 730 
 
 46 769 
 
 40 230 
 
 Spain 
 
 229 283 
 
 685 
 
 6 534 
 
 1 392 
 
 
 Switzerland .... 
 
 326 95'> 
 
 194 755 
 
 -> 'M 753 
 
 3'K) H7i 
 
 294 817 
 
 Italy 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 492 
 
 Other countries 
 
 160 178 
 
 201 153 
 
 247 726 
 
 518 627 
 
 62 168 
 
 French vessels 
 
 
 
 
 
 147 117 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total quantity 
 
 25 273 429 
 
 13 19"' 838 
 
 17 ">37 756 
 
 22 364 114 
 
 17 769 K r >6 
 
 Value 
 
 85 706 '*93 
 
 82 879 772 
 
 8'i 564 181 
 
 81 309 368 
 
 83 341 961 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 Imports and export* of French eggs, 1877 to 1902 Continued. 
 EXPORTS Continued. 
 
 49 
 
 To 1898 
 
 1899. 1900. 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 KUogrt 
 England 12, 44 
 
 ims. Kilograms. Kilograms. Kilograms. 
 9,617 12,183,691 12,343,336 10,998,333 
 5,601 93,428 ' 110,160 128,673 
 7,944 14,250 39,512 29,467 
 S,658 202,333 270,629 286,344 
 5,456 1,610 3,222 
 
 Kilograms. 
 9,497,574 
 126,808 
 37,086 
 238, 455 
 295 
 71,057 
 331,643 
 
 Germany 9 
 
 Belgium 1 
 
 Switzerland 22. 
 
 Italy- 
 
 Other countries 4 
 
 3,189 56,346 52,200 50,779 
 %052 163,277 179,941 438,040 
 
 French vessels 14 
 
 
 Total quantity .. 12,98. 
 
 J.517 12,714,935 12,995,778 11,934,858 
 
 5,627 $2,698,890 $2,896,546 82,784,844 
 
 1 1 
 
 10,302,918 
 82,481,602 
 
 Value 82, 63 
 
 
 LIVE AND DEAD POULTRY. 
 
 French imports and export* of lire and dead poultry, 1877 to 1903. 
 LIVE POULTRY. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. Exports. 
 
 Quantity. Value. Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1877 . 
 
 Kilograms. Dollars. Kilograms. 
 865,742 .'... 
 
 'Dollars. 
 
 687, 392 
 676, 377 
 773, 066 
 
 1878 
 
 ' 845 198 
 
 1879 
 
 ! 1 021 258 
 
 1880 
 
 971 , 925 
 
 756, 773 
 1,300,881 
 1,356,008 
 1,441,993 
 1,064,824 
 1,616,422 
 1,134,483 
 1,281,384 
 1,192,442 
 972, 909 
 970, 520 
 997.470 
 412,201 
 352, 838 
 254,921 
 242, 198 
 199,269 
 151,976 
 1-19, 722 
 204,663 
 171,385 
 153,984 
 139, 035 
 151,312 
 
 1881.... 
 
 1 1 
 . . 3,129,842 1,208,119 3,370,207 
 
 1882 
 
 3,345,279 1,291,285 ' 3,512,973 
 
 1883 
 
 2,666,409 1,029,233 3,735,734 
 
 1884 
 
 2, 653, 664 998, 706 2, 829, 344 
 
 1885 
 
 2 814 942 1 059 403 4,294 998 
 
 1886 
 
 2,806,534 1 056,239 3 014,436 
 
 1887 
 
 2 837,146 ! 1,040,381 3,494,092 
 
 1888 
 
 . ' 2,215,512 816,588 3,091,818 
 
 1889 
 
 ' 1,915,371 776,300 2,400,465 
 
 1890 
 
 1,950,120 809,202 2,338,884 
 
 1891 
 
 1 890 297 802 619 2 349 198 
 
 1892 
 
 933 866 306 401 1 '256 326 
 
 1893 
 
 868 668 267 255 1 142 till 
 
 1894 
 
 < 1 247 093 385 102 776 962 
 
 1895 
 
 1 ''19 2'>6 341 301 809 6'>2 
 
 1896 
 
 1,185,316 320,272 688,321 
 
 1897 
 
 1 2^7 518 324 568 534 617 
 
 1898 
 
 1 276 4 9 1 357 207 493 806 
 
 1899 
 
 1 337 956 361 516 703 843 
 
 1900 
 
 1 276 317 361 104 570 228 
 
 1901 
 
 1 143 985 324 560 508 180 
 
 1902 
 
 1 167 476 333 478 1 503 'MO 
 
 1903'- 
 
 1 027 100 293 550 1% 3^0 
 
 
 
 Previous to 1892 game and turtles were included with poultry. 
 '< Preliminary figures. 
 
 7774 No. 65
 
 50 
 
 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 French imports and exports of live and dead poultry, 1877 to 1903 Continued. 
 
 DEAD POULTRY. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 1877 2,557,208 
 
 1878 2, 899, 842 
 
 1879 3,486,000 
 
 1880 . 3, 450, 389 
 
 1881 3, 325, 359 
 
 1882 3,851,565 
 
 1883 3,484,489 
 
 1884 3, 712, 071 
 
 1885 3, 859, 841 
 
 1886 3, 457, 008 
 
 1887 3,732,536 
 
 1888 3, 425, 638 
 
 1889 3, 407, 741 
 
 1890 3, 442, 483 
 
 1891 3, 194, 302 
 
 1892 a 844, 576 
 
 1893 746, 009 
 
 1894 984, 954 
 
 1895 936, 060 
 
 1896 901,841 
 
 1897 928, 226 
 
 1898 942, 029 
 
 1899 951, 442 
 
 1900 939, 643 
 
 1901 954, 699 
 
 1902 489, 626 
 
 1903 b 917, 500 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 1,115,403 
 
 1, 315, 223 
 
 1,749,275 
 
 1,598,220 
 
 1,476,127 
 
 1,724,577 
 
 1,546,765 
 
 1,576,145 
 
 1,638,888 
 
 1,467,846 
 
 1,548,816 
 
 1, 487, 583 
 
 1,545,581 
 
 1,594,558 
 
 1,510,426 
 
 391,208 
 
 331, 153 
 
 437,221 
 
 379, 385 
 
 348, 111 
 
 349,338 
 
 372, 713 
 
 367,257 
 
 380,837 
 
 386,440 
 
 149, 307 
 
 178, 911 
 
 Kilograms. 
 2,512,409 
 2, 563, 101 
 2,924 015 
 3,616,355 
 2, 640, 978 
 2, 881, 078 
 2,511,312 
 2, 610, 208 
 2,503,523 
 2,712,100 
 3, 362, 688 
 3,236,557 
 3, 545, 584 
 3,897,435 
 3, 769, 755 
 3,957,251 
 4, 319, 823 
 3, 2%, 624 
 3, 159, 324 
 5, 115, 062 
 3, 790, 999 
 4,118,838 
 4,510,979 
 4, 653, 833 
 4,751,328 
 4, 560, 570 
 5,053,900 
 
 Dollars. 
 1,095,862 
 1,162,494 
 1,467,271 
 1,675,096 
 1, 172, 330 
 1,290,032 
 1,114,771 
 1,108,294 
 1,062,9% 
 1,151,558 
 1,395,347 
 1,405,475 
 1,608,100 
 1,805,292 
 1,782,529 
 1,871,186 
 1,959,256 
 1,558,832 
 1, 371, 936 
 2,122,495 
 1,536 492 
 1,748,859 
 1,871,831 
 2, 020, 927 
 2, 063, 264 
 1,980,428 
 2, 194, 603 
 
 a Previous to 1892 game and turtles were included with poultry. 
 b Preliminary figures. 
 
 PATE DE FOIE GRAS. 
 
 French imports and exports of pdte defoie gras, 1892 to 1903. 
 
 Year. 
 
 1892. 
 1893. 
 1894. 
 1895. 
 
 1897.. 
 1898. . . 
 1899... 
 1900.. 
 1901.. 
 1902.. 
 1903a. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Quantity. Value 
 
 Pounds. 
 79, 657 
 101, 182 
 101,185 
 92,388 
 92,807 
 90,638 
 83,182 
 74,793 
 74,244 
 65,904 
 46, 720 
 26, 400 
 
 Dollars. 
 69,735 
 88,579 
 88,581 
 80,879 
 81,247 
 79,348 
 72, 821 
 65,477 
 64,997 
 57, 695 
 40,901 
 50, 952 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Quantity. Value 
 
 Pounds. 
 201,470 
 248, 974 
 225, 822 
 214, 951 
 254,201 
 208, 520 
 196, 574 
 212,878 
 222,501 
 204,433 
 204,990 
 122, 100 
 
 Dollars. 
 176, 375 
 217, 963 
 197,694 
 188, 177 
 222, 539 
 182, 647 
 172,090 
 186,363 
 212, 157 
 178, 969 
 179, 457 
 235,663 
 
 Preliminary figures.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 51 
 
 THE CONSUMPTION OF EGGS IN PARIS. 
 
 The number of eggs consumed in a large city like London or Paris 
 is a question that has attracted some attention in recent years. Lon- 
 don does not publish any satisfactory data on this subject; Paris, 
 however, gives full and extensive information, and, being the largest 
 city on the Continent, it will perhaps serve a useful purpose for com- 
 parison. Although the amount of eggs consumed will no doubt vary 
 to some extent in different cities and the statistics for one can not be 
 applied with accuracy to another, yet it is true that correct informa- 
 tion in regard to one city of the first rank, such as Paris, will serve as 
 a check to the wild guesswork often found in periodicals. 
 
 CITY AND MARKET REGULATIONS. 
 
 The city government levies a small tax on all eggs that enter the 
 city limits, and from the records of this transaction it becomes possible 
 to ascertain the total receipts of eggs in Paris/' This tax, or octroi, as 
 it is called, amounts to 81 cents per 100 kilos. About one-third 
 of the eggs, both foreign and domestic, go to private dealers in the 
 city. The remainder is taken by the Halles Centrales (Central Market), 
 where the sale is subject to municipal regulations. The market fee 
 for eggs is 20 cents per 100 kilos. The common package (colis) 
 for French eggs is a wicker basket containing 1,000, while the long 
 foreign eases hold 440 more. As the consignments usually contain 
 some spoiled and small eggs, there is a board of inspectors appointed 
 by the prefect of police to ascertain the number and condition of the 
 eggs. 
 
 The cost of counting 1,000 eggs is about 5 cents; of testing, about 
 12 cents; and of passing through the ring, or grading, about 3 cents. 
 Inspectors make no charge, however, for grading if there are fewer 
 than ten small eggs in a consignment. An egg passing through a 
 ring having a diameter of 38 mm. (about \\ inches) is considered 
 small. The inspectors act independently of buyers and sellers, and 
 the police seize all eggs that are unfit for consumption. The number 
 so seized is about 1 in every 50. The cost of counting and testing is 
 borne by the purchaser when the loss falls below 10 in the count and 
 15 eggs in the test, otherwise the seller makes good the loss. The 
 commission men charge 3 per cent for handling the eggs; they sell 
 about 40 per cent by auction and 60 per cent by contract. 
 
 An ordinance of April 23, 1897, forbids the importation of merchan- 
 dise not coming directly from the places of shipment or production. 
 This has had the effect of eliminating preserved or limed eggs, which 
 were bought up when they were abundant and preserved and resold 
 at times when the supply was scarce. The items of preserved eggs 
 given in the official reports before this date have not appeared since. 
 
 "Annuaire stytistique de }a Ville de Pane,
 
 52 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 THE SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 
 
 Nearly all the receipts of eggs in the Halles Centrales are domestic. 
 Only about one one-fifteenth is foreign. As the foreign eggs are 
 smaller, requiring from 25 to 30 to make a kilogram, they bring from 
 $1.54 to $1.93 less per 1,000 than French eggs. The table below gives 
 the domestic and foreign sources of the supply of the market in 1897: 
 
 Sources of supply of eggs for the Paris market for 1897. 
 
 France: Kilograms. 
 
 West Normandy, Brittany 4, 555, 301 
 
 Lyons Burgundy, Bourbonnais 1, 346, 234 
 
 North Picardy 1, 452, 982 
 
 East Brie, Champagne 737, 300 
 
 Orleans Beauce, Orne, Chatellerault, Nivernais, Vendee, Midi 6,503,600 
 
 Paris Private parties 372, 626 
 
 Preserved South and west 204, 800 
 
 Foreign: 
 
 Austria-Hungary 57, 980 
 
 Egypt 56, 459 
 
 Germany , 209, 680 
 
 Russia ' 708, 144 
 
 Spain 5, 100 
 
 Tunis 217, 020 
 
 Turkey 23, 100 
 
 Total 16, 450, 326 
 
 The average price for 1,000 eggs in 1897 was $16.81. The average 
 price per kilogram for the same year was 27.6 cents. A kilogram 
 represents about 15 large, 17 medium, or 22 small eggs. As the dif- 
 ferent grades do not enter in the same proportion into the total 
 receipts, the official estimate is 20 eggs to the kilogram. 
 
 TOTAL RECEIPTS AT PARIS. 
 
 The total supply of Paris was 20,566,873 kilograms in 1885, 
 22,324,103 kilograms in 1890, 24,589,962 kilograms in 1895, and 
 30,732,964 kilograms in 1900. This last figure should be discounted 
 somewhat, as the increase is beyond the normal and was due to the 
 occurrence of the world's exposition in that year. We see from these 
 figures that there is a normal increase of about half a million a year. 
 The home production supplies nearly all the demand. In the late fall 
 and winter, when French eggs are more scarce than at any other time, 
 foreign eggs make up the deficiency, but seldom appear on the market 
 during the summer season. The duty on eggs is $1.93 (general tariff) 
 or $1.16 (special tariff) per 100 kilograms; a few eggs come in at the 
 general tariff of $1.93, while the great mass enter at the conventional 
 rate of $1.16 per 100 kilograms. The records of the port of Paris 
 give the amount of foreign eggs subject to tariff. From about
 
 POULTRY AND EGG9 IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 53 
 
 1,000,000 kilograms in 1S90 it had grown to 4,000,000 kilograms in 
 1900. Foreign eggs, as a rule, are small, requiring from 25 to 30 to 
 the kilogram, as stated above, and they bring from $1.54 to $1.93 less 
 per 1,000 than the domestic. They also come, as a rule, by slow 
 freight and are from three to eight days old when they arrive. 
 
 At first the imports seem to have come from a few near-by countries, 
 but as the years went by they were shipped from greater and still greater 
 distances. About 1890 Austria-Hungary was the only country export- 
 ing to Paris. Soon Russia, Germany, and Italy came in. Egypt 
 appeared for the first time in 1896 and Tunis and Turkey in the fol- 
 lowing year. Russia has gradually outstripped the others. The seiz- 
 ures by the police in the Central Market since 1892 average 30,529 
 kilograms and the reshipments 992,111 kilograms. It should be 
 observed, however, that the reshipments have in the same period 
 decreased from about 1,215,000 to 684,100 kilograms. Therefore, 
 after deducting the seizures by the police and the reshipments, the 
 per capita consumption in 1891 was 180.6; in 1896 it was 193.6; and 
 in 1900 it was 221. As already stated, some deduction should be made 
 for the exposition year of 1900. 
 
 The table below shows for the year of 189T, by months, the total 
 receipts of eggs at Paris and also the amount of these that went to the 
 Central Market. The difference between the total receipts and those 
 that went to the Central Market are the eggs that went to private 
 
 dealers: 
 
 Receipt* of eggx at Paris in 1897, by months. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Total re- 
 ceipts at 
 Paris. 
 
 Receipts 
 of foreign 
 origin 
 
 Receipts at Halles Centrales (Cen- 
 tral Market). 
 
 Of domestic 
 origin 
 
 Of foreign 
 origin. 
 
 Total. 
 
 January 
 
 Kilograms Kilor/ram* 
 1,534,809 i 
 
 Kilograms 
 1,188,687 
 
 1.538,648 
 2,238,455 
 1,883,573 
 1,533,123 
 
 Kilograms. 
 118,100 
 10,430 
 6,700 
 
 Kilograms. 
 1,256,787 
 1,549,078 
 2, 245, 155 
 1,883,573 
 1,533,123 
 1,320,893 
 1,277,035 
 1,049,466 
 968, 59 
 1,140,712 
 1,047,148 
 1,178,497 
 
 February 
 
 2, 222, 594 i 
 
 March 
 
 3 553 158 
 
 
 April 
 
 3,472,453 -- 
 
 May . 
 
 2, 552, 925 
 2,099 699 
 
 
 
 j une 
 
 
 1 , 320, 893 
 
 
 July 
 
 2,103,781 
 1,730,659 
 1.695 713 
 
 
 1,277,035 
 1,045,760 
 842, 599 
 784, 536 
 757, 100 
 812, 42s 
 
 
 
 
 3,700 
 126,260 
 356, 176 
 290, 048 
 366,069 
 
 
 
 October 1 873 668 
 
 
 Decem be r 
 
 2,013,818 
 
 Total . 
 
 
 26,528,642 
 
 2,820,500 j 15,172,843 
 
 1,277,483 
 
 16, 450, 326 

 
 54 
 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 Table showing maximum and minimum prices per 1,000 eggs of the several grades at the 
 Central Market, Paris, by months. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Extra size (15 per 
 kilogram). 
 
 Medium size (17 per 
 kilogram). 
 
 Small size (22 per 
 kilogram). 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 1897. 
 
 825.56 
 23. 47 
 18.67 
 18.23 
 17. 12 
 18.09 
 19.70 
 22. 42 
 23.88 
 28.18 
 30.72 
 30.05 
 
 $22.10 
 20.86 
 16.36 
 15. 91 
 15. 29 
 16.58 
 17.47 
 19.47 
 20. 41 
 24. 75 
 26.66 
 26.08 
 
 $21.09 
 19.17 
 15.37 
 15.22 
 13.84 
 14.47 
 15.97 
 18.05 
 17.67 
 21.81 
 23. 10 
 22. 85 
 
 $18.65 
 16.71 
 13.24 
 13.24 
 11.74 
 12. 13 
 13.60 
 15.24 
 15.88 
 17.37 
 18.10 
 18.03 
 
 $16.90 
 15.81 
 12.21 
 11.56 
 9.91 
 11.05 
 11.66 
 14.10 
 13.79 
 14.75 
 15.22 
 15.68 
 
 f!3.27 
 
 12.99 
 9.61 
 8.95 
 8.39 
 8.59 
 9.12 
 10.42 
 9.95 
 10.75 
 12. 47 
 12.81 
 
 
 March . 
 
 April 
 
 May . . 
 
 June. ... 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 
 October 
 
 
 December 
 
 Average 
 
 23. 01 
 
 20.16 
 
 18. 22 
 
 15.33 
 
 13.56 
 
 10.61 
 
 1900. 
 January 
 
 28.13 
 24. 59 
 19.84 
 18.83 
 19.37 
 21.09 
 21.94 
 25.37 
 25.01 
 28.82 
 31.61 
 32.04 
 
 24. 95 
 21.81 
 17.58 
 16.86 
 17.34 
 18.24 
 18.% 
 21.23 
 22.06 
 25.05 
 26.14 
 27.17 
 
 21.42 
 19.09 
 15.55 
 14.86 
 15. 41 
 16.09 
 16.65 
 18.07 
 18.76 
 22.45 
 22.88 
 22. 52 
 
 18.83 
 16.71 
 13.65 
 12.81 
 13. 47 
 13.67 
 14.27 
 15.90 
 15.69 
 19.30 
 18.99 
 18.82 
 
 16.10 
 14.01 
 11.63 
 11.11 
 11.55 
 11.56 
 12.16 
 13.40 
 12. 28 
 15.07 
 15.42 
 15.47 
 
 12.79 
 11.14 
 9.08 
 9.43 
 9.10 
 9.09 
 9.75 
 10.24 
 9.40 
 12.35 
 11.19 
 11.93 
 
 February 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 
 October 
 
 November 
 
 December 
 
 Average . . . 
 
 24.76 
 
 21.45 
 
 18.65 
 
 16.00 
 
 13.31 
 
 10.46 
 
 Table showing the imports of eggs, both domestic and foreign, into Paris for a series of 
 
 years. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Eggs of 
 domestic 
 origin. 
 
 Eggs of for- 
 eign origin. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Reship- 
 ments 
 (about). 
 
 1885 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 20, 566, 873 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 1886 
 
 
 
 20,721,699 
 
 1,009,100 
 
 1887 
 
 
 
 21,405,044 
 
 909, 100 
 
 1888 
 
 20, 739, 985 
 
 729, 900 
 
 21,469,885 
 
 900,000 
 
 1889 
 
 21,610,372 
 
 969, 700 
 
 22, 780, 072 
 
 1,200,000 
 
 1890 
 
 21,176,203 
 
 1,147,900 
 
 22,324,103 
 
 1,110,000 
 
 1891 
 
 
 
 23,250 509 
 
 
 1892 
 
 
 
 23, 432, 947 
 
 1,215,000 
 
 1893 
 
 22,378 265 
 
 1,170,900 
 
 23, 549, 165 
 
 1,110,000 
 
 1894 
 
 22 194,896 
 
 2, 283, 700 
 
 24,478,596 
 
 1,140,000 
 
 1895 
 
 23 035 264 
 
 1 554 700 
 
 24 589 962 
 
 1 120 000 
 
 1896 
 
 23 200 602 
 
 2 468 500 
 
 26,669 102 
 
 1,135,900 
 
 1897 
 
 23,708 142 
 
 2 820 500 
 
 26,528 642 
 
 901,900 
 
 1898 
 
 23 675 656 
 
 3 239 400 
 
 26 914 956 
 
 863 600 
 
 1899 
 
 26 236 622 
 
 4 006 300 
 
 27 242 922 
 
 771 900 
 
 1900 
 
 26 602 544 
 
 4 129 700 
 
 30 732 964 
 
 684 100 
 
 1901 
 
 
 5 219 600 
 
 
 
 1902... 
 
 
 7.219.100 
 

 
 POULTRY AND EGOS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 55 
 
 The following table shows what disposition is made of these eggs. 
 The Central Market (Halles Centrales) alone makes a separate show- 
 ing of the domestic and foreign produce: 
 
 Distribution and price of eggs received at Paris for a series of years. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Central 
 
 Of domes- 
 tic origin. 
 
 market. 
 
 Of foreign 
 origin. 
 
 Private 
 dealers. 
 
 Seized by 
 police. 
 
 Price per 
 kilo- 
 gram. 
 
 Price per 
 1,000 
 eggs. 
 
 1886 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Kiloi/rams. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 4,580,284 
 5, 588, 776 
 6, 157, 895 
 6, 273, 788 
 6, 777, 533 
 7,305,823 
 7,519,815 
 7,401,538 
 7,500,169 
 8,076,898 
 8,601,324 
 9, 101, 088 
 10, 078, 316 
 10, 901, 381 
 10, 983, 622 
 12,579,651 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Francs. 
 1.36 
 
 Francx. 
 
 1886 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1887 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1888 
 
 
 
 37, 031 
 36,657 
 35,586 
 
 
 
 1889 
 
 15, 499, 645 
 14,544,590 
 15,288,861 
 15,741,065 
 15,416,031 
 15,082,752 
 15,447,440 
 15, 637, 814 
 15,172,843 
 14,058,199 
 13,764,214 
 15, 528, 433 
 
 502, 894 
 573, 690 
 441,832 
 290, 344 
 C32, 965 
 1,318,946 
 541,200 
 930, 200 
 1,277,483 
 1,955,376 
 2,494,380 
 2, 606, 160 
 
 
 
 1890 
 
 
 
 1891 
 
 
 
 1892 
 
 32, 743 
 33,108 
 30, 624 
 30,638 
 28,081 
 28, 719 
 30,039 
 30,981 
 31,790 
 
 
 
 1893 
 
 
 
 1894 . 
 
 1.33 
 1.43 
 1.41 
 1.43 
 1.45 
 1.46 
 1.48 
 
 81.69 
 87. 21 
 85.05 
 87.12 
 89.59 
 81.03 
 80.91 
 
 1895 ... 
 
 1896 
 
 1897 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 
 ITALY. 
 
 Agricultural cooperation, along the lines followed in Denmark and 
 Ireland, is unknown in Italy, except in Lombardy and Venetia, where 
 some attempts have been made with excellent results. The general 
 principle governing these cooperative societies, or unions, is, first, the 
 establishment of local unions; these have their head in a central union. 
 There are about 300 such unions, and they have a membership of about 
 45,000. The unions and their membership are increasing. Instructors 
 are appointed to travel from place to place to give such advice as seems 
 necessary. No unions have yet been established to lend support to 
 the poultry and egg industry, those so far organized being for the 
 purpose of purchasing fertilizers and other things needed on the farm. 
 It is probable that the success of the unions in other lines will soon 
 suggest the value of their work in the interests of poultry and egg 
 production. 
 
 The statistics of imports and exports which have been compiled for 
 Italy relate to special commerce; that is, the imports are those for 
 consumption only and the exports are those of domestic origin. 
 
 The imports of eggs have never been on a large scale; the largest 
 amount was in 1!H)2, when their value was $244,251. So far as the 
 statistics compiled for this article show, there has always been a heavy
 
 BUREAU OB" ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 export trade in eggs. This trade was worth $6,781, 1S2 in 1880, while 
 in 1902 the value was $8,310,821. This amount was exceeded by the 
 three years immediately preceding 1902. 
 
 In the matter of live. poultry Italy again has the balance of trade 
 on her side. The imports have not been large, yet the amount for 
 1902 is very much larger than that for any previous year since 1885. 
 The exports have been large all along, the average for the long series 
 of years shown in the table being close to $1,500,000. 
 
 The trade in dead poultry is not very great. The value of the 
 imports in 1902 was $7,961, while the exports for that year were 
 valued at $795,546. This latter amount has been exceeded but once, 
 and that but slightly, in 1900. 
 
 Italian imports and exports of egfjs, 1880 to 1903. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1880 
 
 Kilograms. 
 77,200 
 175, 100 
 190,200 
 175, 700 
 
 Dollars. 
 20,859 
 43,933 
 47, 521 
 40,083 
 124, 647 
 103, 191 
 91,772 
 68, 021 
 43, 763 
 40, 821 
 37, 183 
 32, 316 
 26, 977 
 22, 897 
 25, 517 
 33,655 
 32, 482 
 52,820 
 62,231 
 54,219 
 65,190 
 106, 875 
 244,251 
 392, 291 
 
 Kilograms. 
 25,0%, 900 
 21,830,900 
 25, 490, 000 
 23, 716, 700 
 29, 775, 300 
 28,874,400 
 23,402,600 
 19,376,900 
 18,i089, 500 
 14,155,400 
 15,285,200 
 17,507,7QO 
 17,840,400 
 23, 652, 400 
 30,676,200 
 24, 679, 200 
 26,331,200 
 29, 399, 000 
 31,489,100 
 33, 797, 700 
 35,739,600 
 33, 048, 200 
 28, 707, 500 
 25, 505, 100 
 
 Dollars. 
 6,781,182 
 5, 477, 374 
 5, 395, 441 
 5, 949, 520 
 7,470,623 
 7,234,587 
 5,645,877 
 4,674,677 
 4,364,092 
 3,571,590 
 3,837,057 
 4,392,682 
 4,476,156 
 5,934,387 
 7, 696, 659 
 6,191,011 
 5,490,114 
 6, 283, 368 
 7, 292, 876 
 8, 479, 843 
 9, 656, 840 
 9,248,539 
 8, 310, 821 
 7,413,725 
 
 1881 . 
 
 1882 
 
 1883 
 
 1884. . 
 
 496,800 
 411,300 
 380,400 
 240, 500 
 181,400 
 162, 700 
 148, 200 
 
 1885... 
 
 1886 
 
 1887 
 
 1888 
 
 1889 - 
 
 1890 
 
 191 . 
 
 128,800 
 107, 600 
 91,300 
 101,700 
 122,100 
 153,000 
 248,800 
 268, 700 
 216,100 
 240,600 
 381,900 
 843,700 
 1,355,100 
 
 1892.. . . .. 
 
 1893 
 
 1894 
 
 1895 
 
 1896 
 
 1897... 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 ... 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 
 
 1903n 
 
 
 "Preliminary figures.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 57 
 
 Italian import* and e.rportx of lire poultry, /#<*>'/) to 19O3. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Kxports. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 fUogramt. 
 
 1885 72, 900 
 
 Dollars. 
 21,105 
 19, 590 
 16, 674 
 18,993 
 19,211 
 19,833 
 21,756 
 33,142 
 16, 060 
 17,924 
 23,465 
 21,052 
 19,570 
 12,931 
 12,093 
 17, 136 
 18,962 
 37,735 
 24,954 
 
 Kilograms. 
 6,106,700 
 5, 932, 600 
 5,313,600 
 4,875,000 
 4, 787, 500 
 4,767,500 
 4,890,300 
 4,909,200 
 5,845,600 
 6,970,300 
 6,934,000 
 6,676,200 
 6,806,500 
 6,618,300 
 7, 789, 500 
 6,688,900 
 4,948,700 
 5, 363, 900 
 5,001,800 
 
 Dollars. 
 1,767,890 
 1,602,989 
 1,435,735 
 1,223,041 
 1,266,753 
 1,288,179 
 1,274,167 
 1,279,092 
 1,556,917 
 1,856,470 
 1,846,802 
 1, 739, 484 
 1,707,751 
 1,796,665 
 1,954,386 
 1,678,245 
 1,193,874 
 1,345,803 
 1,264,951 
 
 1886 75, 500 
 
 1887 61,600 
 
 1888 75,700 
 
 1889 71,100 
 
 1890 73,400 
 
 1891 83, 500 
 
 1892 -127 200 
 
 1893 60, 300 
 
 1894 " 67 300 
 
 1895 88,100 
 
 1896 ... . . .80.800 
 
 1897 78,000 
 
 1898 53,600 
 
 1899 48,200 
 
 1900 68, 300 
 
 1901 78 600 
 
 1902 150 400 
 
 1903" ... . . 171 200 
 
 
 Preliminary figures. 
 Italian imports and export x of dead poultry, 1885 to 1903. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Quantity. Value. 
 
 Quantity. Value. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 1885 9,400 
 
 Dollar*. 
 2,266 
 1,477 
 2, 592 
 4,972 
 4,954 
 4,758 
 3,598 
 4,416 
 4,539 
 4,261 
 5,991 
 5,066 
 3,378 
 4,512 
 10,802 
 8,048 
 6,576 
 7,961 
 11,869 
 
 Kilograms. 
 1,872,200 
 1,285,500 
 1, 137, 900 
 888,700 
 933,900 
 865, 300 
 1,018,400 
 1, 554, 500 
 1,607,700 
 2,015,000 
 2, 092, 000 
 2, 064, 900 
 1,626,800 
 2, 135, 100 
 2, 569, 000 
 2,834,100 
 2,551,700 
 2,748,000 
 2, 453, 400 
 
 Dollars. 
 649, 502 
 421, 773 
 373, 345 
 274,431 
 306, 413 
 283,906 
 284, 482 
 480,030 
 496, 457 
 622, 232 
 646,010 
 597, 789 
 493, 561 
 576, 904 
 718, 935 
 820, 472 
 714,093 
 795, 546 
 710,259 
 
 1886 5, 600 
 
 1887 7 900 
 
 1888 ^ 16 100 
 
 1889 15 100 
 
 1890 14500 
 
 1891 . . ' 12300 
 
 1892 14,300 
 
 1893 14,700 
 
 1894 13,800 
 
 1895 * 19,400 
 
 1896.. 17,500 
 
 1897 12, 500 
 
 1898 16,700 
 
 1899 38,600 
 
 1900 27, 800 
 
 1901 23,500 
 
 1902 . 27500 
 
 1903" 11 000 
 
 
 Preliminary figures.
 
 58 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 GERMANY. 
 
 The statistics for Germany are from Government official reports, 
 and they are given for the "German customs district." This district 
 comprises the 26 allied States and, in addition, the Grand Duchy of 
 Luxembourg, the two Austrian communities of Jungholz and 
 Mittelburg, bordering on the Bavarian territory, while separate parts 
 of the German Empire (the territory of the free ports of Hamburg, 
 Bremerhaven, and Geestemunde, the Prussian island of Heligoland, a 
 part of the Hamburg community of Cuxhaven, and some of the rural 
 communities of Baden on the Swiss borders) are excluded. 
 
 There are no data at hand to show what the German production of 
 poultry and eggs is, but the table of exports and imports indicates 
 very decidedly that this production is not sufficient to meet the needs 
 of the German people. The imports of chickens in 1897 (the first 
 year that they were reported separate!} 7 ) amounted to 7,468,800 kilo- 
 grams, or 16,431,360 pounds, having a value of $2,399,664. In the 
 years following there was a steady increase, so that the amount of 
 imports of chickens in 1903 was 10,609,800 kilograms, having a value 
 of $2,752,470. It will be observed that the increase in values has not 
 kept pace with the quantities. 
 
 We find similar large imports of live geese and dead poultry. "The 
 imports of live geese into Germany in 1902 are nearly a half larger in 
 quantity than the total number that were in the United States in 1900. 
 The Russian statistics show a total export of live geese in 1902 amount- 
 ing to 5,203,000 in number, and the German reports show that most of 
 these are consumed in the latter country. 
 
 The imports of dead poultry are also very large, and, as will be 
 noticed in the table, have gradually increased in both quantity and 
 value. In 1897 the value of such imports was $1,239,028 and in 1902 
 it was $2,045,372. 
 
 The total value of imports of poultry chickens, geese, other live 
 poultry, and dead poultry in 1903 was $11,741,492. When we add 
 to this sum the value of the imports of eggs, egg yolks, and egg 
 whites, we have a grand sum of $38,680,950.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 59 
 
 German imports and exports of lire and dead poultry, 1895 to 1903. 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Live chickens. 
 
 Live geese. 
 
 Other live poultry. 
 
 Dead poultry. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1895 
 
 h'tluni'iim.*. 
 25, 448, 900 
 "24, 502, 700 
 7,468,800 
 8,363,500 
 
 8, 925, 600 
 9, 615, 500 
 9, 373, 500 
 10,594,600 
 10,609,800 
 
 JMlarK. 
 4,457,740 
 4,041,240 
 2,399,664 
 2, 279, 084 
 
 2,421,650 
 2, 608, 950 
 2,498,524 
 2, 746, 282 
 2,752,470 
 
 h'i/iiiiriniii--. 
 
 Dollar*. 
 
 KUiarrnnif. 
 
 l>nfl<n-*. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 2, 858, 400 
 3,364 800 
 
 Dollars. 
 877, 506 
 1,041,012 
 1,239,028 
 1,225,462 
 
 1,333,514 
 1,583,652 
 2,042,516 
 2,050,370 
 2,016,336 
 
 1896 
 
 
 
 
 
 1897. .. . 
 
 18,073,800 
 20,311,600 
 Number. 
 6, 875, 810 
 6,220,055 
 6, 431, 247 
 7,254,145 
 7,814,723 
 
 2,494,954 
 4,176,662 
 
 4, 254, 726 
 4, 219, 264 
 4,301,132 
 5, 568, 724 
 6, 007, 596 
 
 2,114,500 
 2,251,600 
 
 2, 435, 700 
 2, 438, 900 
 2,268,300 
 2, 669, 400 
 2, 876, 200 
 
 709,002 
 754, 222 
 
 817,054 
 818, 720 
 758, 744 
 894,404 
 965,090 
 
 4,067,200 
 4,119,100 
 
 4,482,500 
 5,158,500 
 6,601,400 
 6,714,100 
 6,618,500 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 1902 
 
 1903. 
 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Live chickens. 
 
 Live geese. 
 
 Other live poultry. 
 
 Dead poultry. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1895 
 
 Kilograms. 
 272, 600 
 279, 100 
 111,900 
 168,500 
 
 169, 200 
 191,400 
 135,300 
 131,200 
 75, 700 
 
 Dollars. 
 14,288 
 88,298 
 53,312 
 80,206 
 
 79,844 
 91,154 
 
 64,498 
 58,256 
 36,938 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 Dollar*. 
 
 Kilogram*. 
 
 Dollars. 
 
 Kilograms. 
 133, 500 
 179,800 
 227,800 
 115,000 
 
 285,600 
 264,700 
 285,900 
 272, 600 
 307,700 
 
 Dollar*. 
 69,97( 
 77, 111 
 101,86< 
 68,5* 
 
 125, 18! 
 115,901 
 123, 04( 
 117,33- 
 132,. TO 
 
 18% 
 
 
 
 
 
 1897 
 
 97,500 
 102,200 
 Number. 
 50, 605 
 53,309 
 55,373 
 55,329 
 99,444 
 
 20,944 
 36,414 
 
 90,440 
 63,546 
 65,926 
 72, 352 
 130,186 
 
 54,100 
 38,300 
 
 47,600 
 46,300 
 58,000 
 
 52,600 
 49,700 
 
 25,704 
 18,326 
 
 22,610 
 22,134 
 25,228 
 24,990 
 23,122 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 
 
 1903 
 
 
 a For the years of 1895 and 18% game and geese are included under the head of "Chickens." After 
 18% chickens only are given, while geese are given under a separate head. 
 
 German imports and exports of eggs and egg whites, 1895 to 1903. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Eggs (including yolks). 
 
 Egg whites. 
 
 Eggs (including 
 yolks) . 
 
 Egg whites. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1895 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 83,565,000 
 89, 029, 800 
 99, 590, 200 
 105,835,800 
 112,578,600 
 118, 169, 700 
 116,486,500 
 128, 153, 800 
 124, 776, 900 
 
 Dollars. 
 17, 104, 108 
 18,858,406 
 20, 384, 224 
 17,002,482 
 21,568,988 
 24,051,090 
 24,202,934 
 27,386,898 
 26,667,900 
 
 Kiloi. 
 198,800 
 
 171,000 
 213, 300 
 261,000 
 243, 900 
 235,600 
 270,000 
 506,700 
 1, 140, 700 
 
 Dollars. 
 187,316 
 162, 792 
 213,248 
 298,214 
 276, 698 
 246,805 
 224,910 
 241,094 
 271, 658 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 771,900 
 745,300 
 694,100 
 544,800 
 497,500 
 613, 100 
 698,800 
 506,700 
 1,035,500 
 
 Dollars. 
 176,358 
 175, 644 
 158, 508 
 110,194 
 107, 100 
 140, 082 
 162,078 
 230,622 
 245, 568 
 
 Kilofframg. 
 208,400 
 136,100 
 107,000 
 117,500 
 208,200 
 263,500 
 289, 400 
 379,000 
 446, 600 
 
 Dollars. 
 170,888 
 80,920 
 69, 144 
 67, 016 
 119,000 
 37,604 
 55,216 
 90,202 
 106,386 
 
 18% 
 
 1897 
 1898. 
 
 1899. 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 
 
 1903. 

 
 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 
 
 In discussing the trade of Austria-Hungary it is necessary to explain 
 that the officials of that Government use such terms as "special trade" 
 and "transit trade." The special trade includes the imports for con- 
 sumption and the exports of domestic production. The transit trade, 
 as the phrase suggests, is that which passes through the country, going 
 principally from Russia, Italy, Roumania, and Servia to Germany, 
 Great Britain, Belgium, and Switzerland. The general trade includes 
 both the special trade and the transit trade. The accompanying table 
 shows a large business in the handling of eggs, and by inference a 
 very large production. The same terms with the same meanings are 
 used in Italy. In every year shown the exports have exceeded the 
 imports, and in 1902 this difference was that between 49,514,100 and 
 120,324,700 kilograms, or 70,810,600 kilograms. It does not appear 
 from the information at hand why there should be any imports what- 
 ever when so many eggs are exported; but the records show that most 
 of the imported eggs are from Russia, and we learn, in studying the 
 egg market of England, that the Russian eggs are quite small as com- 
 pared with those from other countries. So the explanation probably 
 lies in this, that the larger eggs of domestic production are exported 
 from Austria-Hungary and the smaller and cheaper Russian eggs are 
 imported for consumption. 
 
 Austro-Ifnnf/arian imports and exports of eggs, 1880 to 1903. 
 
 Special trade. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Transit. 
 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 
 1880 
 
 Kilograms." 
 2, 480, 100 
 
 Dollars. 
 181,246 
 
 Kilograms. 
 27, 262, 800 
 
 Dollars. 
 2, 213, 739 
 
 Kilograms. 
 
 1881 
 
 2, 975, 000 
 
 217,413 
 
 29,662,800 
 
 2, 408, 619 
 
 
 1882 
 
 3, 287, 000 
 
 240, 214 
 
 24, 540, 700 
 
 1 992 705 
 
 
 1883 
 
 1,030,000 
 
 75, 272 
 
 33, 884, 100 
 
 2,751,389 
 
 
 1884 
 
 951,200 
 
 88,823 
 
 27, 577, 200 
 
 2,575,159 
 
 
 1885 
 
 1,043,100 
 
 97,404 
 
 38,025,200 
 
 3, 450, 793 
 
 
 1886 
 
 693, 700 
 
 70,412 
 
 45, 372, 700 
 
 4,605,329 
 
 
 1887 
 
 459,500 
 
 42,840 
 
 45,504,200 
 
 4, 248, 483 
 
 
 1888 
 
 451,900 
 
 42,549 
 
 48, 335, 500 
 
 4,907,821 
 
 
 1889 
 
 012, 700 
 
 60,538 
 
 55, 757, 100 
 
 5, 889, 170 
 
 
 1890 
 
 613, 100 
 
 60,571 
 
 60,995,800 
 
 6, 566, 199 
 
 
 1891 
 
 802,000 
 
 81,403 
 
 55, 880, 100 
 
 (i, 465, 952 
 
 24, 219, 600 
 
 1892 
 
 830,000 
 
 91,504 
 
 65, 249, 800 
 
 9,501,085 
 
 25, 384, 000 
 
 1893 
 
 1,781,500 
 
 178, 247 
 
 66, 299, 900 
 
 9,560,084 
 
 22,241,200 
 
 1894 
 
 20, 707, 100 
 
 2, 942, 489 
 
 90,207,400 
 
 15,375,160 
 
 19,675,300 
 
 1895 
 
 40, 300, 400 
 
 5 407,480 
 
 91,527,500 
 
 15 978,871 
 
 8, 838, 100 
 
 1896 
 
 37, 220, 100 
 
 5 289 046 
 
 88, 670, 700 
 
 10,200,137 
 
 12, 753, 500 
 
 1897. 
 
 37,108,500 
 
 5 423 778 
 
 94,453,400 
 
 16,831,857 
 
 12,164,000 
 
 1898 
 
 40, 454, 500 
 
 5, 746, 226 
 
 95, 796, 100 
 
 16, 239, 291 
 
 15, 392, 400 
 
 1899... x 
 
 42,309,500 
 
 5, 550. 883 
 
 104,047,500 
 
 17, 299, 192 
 
 19, 596, 400 
 
 1900 
 
 39, 349, 400 
 
 5, 563, 155 
 
 108, 787, 500 
 
 20, 150, 285 
 
 18, 015, 900 
 
 1901 
 
 42, 078, 500 
 
 6, 972, 505 
 
 105, 885, 500 
 
 19, 597, 676 
 
 21, 457, 500 
 
 1902. 
 
 49,514,100 
 
 7, 046, 704 
 
 120, 324, 700 
 
 22, 764, 181 
 
 31,076,900 
 
 1903>> 
 
 52 377 800 
 
 7 559 923 
 
 112 611 500 
 
 21 740 375 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "The French officials estimate that 20 eggs of average size are equal to 1 kilogram. 
 b Preliminary figures.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 61 
 
 Previous to 1898 the values were given in gulden, worth 40.6 cents, 
 but since 1898 and including that year they are stated in kronen, 
 worth 20.3 cents. 
 
 The next table shows the imports of live and dead poultry and the 
 exports of all kinds of poultry. The imports are comparatively small, 
 but the exports are enormous for so small a country, showing a gradual 
 increase for the years shown in the tabular statement. 
 
 Auistro- Hungarian imports and exports of poultry, all kinds, 1891 to 1903. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Live poultry. 
 
 Dead poultry. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1891 
 
 Kilograms. 
 1,409,800 
 1,750,500 
 1,667,000 
 2, 037, 100 
 2,891,100 
 3, 300, 500 
 3, 802, 700 
 4,631,200 
 5,423,900 
 6, 325, 400 
 7,261,000 
 6,813,800 
 5. 597. 100 
 
 Dollars. 
 286,236 
 452, 690 
 378, 798 
 4%, 132 
 704,410 
 803,880 
 926, 492 
 1,128,274 
 1,140,860 
 1,323,154 
 1,345,484 
 1,344,063 
 1.022.511 
 
 Kilograms. 
 74,000 
 69,500 
 74,000 
 90,900 
 100, 200 
 90,400 
 107, 100 
 99,000 
 95,000 
 96,300 
 90,400 
 86,400 
 
 Dollars. 
 15,022 
 15,022 
 15,834 
 18,270 
 14, 210 
 14,616 
 19, 488 
 16,849 
 15, 428 
 15,225 
 18,270 
 17,458 
 
 Kilograms. 
 6, 520, 400 
 7,001,500 
 7,428,000 
 8,481,500 
 7,773,900 
 7, 626, 500 
 9,024,700 
 9, 708, 700 
 10,881,200 
 13,338,100 
 10,013,900 
 12,222,300 
 
 Dollars. 
 1,588,272 
 2, 059, 232 
 2, 272, 788 
 2, 582, 566 
 2,524,914 
 2,415,294 
 2, 748, 814 
 2, 838, 840 
 3, 975, 958 
 4,341,561 
 2,032,842 
 2,481,127 
 3,233,374 
 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 
 1894 . . 
 
 1895 
 
 18%. . 
 
 1897 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 
 
 1903a 
 
 
 
 
 
 Preliminary figures. 
 
 The information given herewith concerning poultn T raising in Hun- 
 gary is from an article by G. Parthay, in Ungar^is Landwirthschaft, 
 1896. He first states that Hungary has the necessary conditions for 
 poultry raising, and that the profits of the industry may be increased 
 greatly by a more thorough knowledge of the subject. The breeds of 
 poultry now in use are second or third class. Excepting the turkeys, 
 which were imported from America, all breeds have been known there 
 for ages. 
 
 It is hardly possible that the Hungarians brought poultry with them 
 from Asia, but the} r no doubt acquired some soon after. The produce 
 of poultry was an article of trade in 1300. An order of the King in 
 1498 prohibited the export of poultry. In 1514 an order of the King 
 required bondmen to pay their landlords 12 chickens and 2 geese 
 annually. From that time till 1S50 there was no progress in poultry 
 raising. After this latter date some improvement was noticed. 
 
 It was estimated in the early sixties by Baron Cjorning that there 
 were about 30,000,000 fowls in the country and that they were worth 
 $12,060,000. The exports at that time amounted to $40,000 or 
 $50,000, and rose to $400,000 in the " seventies." About this latter date 
 the Bistrizer society of Saxon farmers organized -and arranged for a
 
 62 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 poultry fair. This, so far as known, is the first poultry show held, 
 but its action was soon imitated by other agricultural societies. A 
 national poultry show was held at Budapest in 1874, but as yet no 
 really important improvement had been made. In 1877 a society of 
 practical poultry raisers was formed, and its influence for progress 
 was felt at once, and improvements were rapid thereafter. Numbers 
 were multiplied, and the census for 1884 gave the following statistics 
 of poultry on the peasant farms and on large estates: 
 
 On peasant farms: Number. 
 
 Chickens 18,937,043 
 
 Turkeys ' 444, 225 
 
 Geese 4, 854, 049 
 
 Ducks 2, 155, 672 
 
 Doves 1, 768, 182 
 
 On large estates: 
 
 Chickens 2, 744, 145 
 
 Turkeys 238, 998 
 
 Geese 776, 830 
 
 Ducks 519, 098 
 
 Doves . . 478, 426 
 
 Total 32, 916, 668 
 
 This census was taken in September, after the principal sales for 
 the summer had been made. 
 
 In 1890 courses of instruction in poultry raising were given for the 
 first time, and in 1891 a course in poultiy breeding was given in the 
 preparatory schools. In 1892 a market was established in the Tier- 
 garten at Budapest, and eggs of purebred fowls were distributed 
 free of charge to breeders. In 1893 the agricultural department dis- 
 tributed poultry among 16 associations and 79 teachers in the public 
 schools. In 1894 this department gave 33 free courses of instruction 
 on poultry breeding by means of traveling teachers, and 500 fowls 
 were distributed. All this has tended toward a general interest in the 
 matter of poultry raising. 
 
 In recent years, and especially since 1890, the Government has shown 
 greater interest in this industry by organizing fairs, spreading infor- 
 mation, and introducing better breeds. a It has ascertained what foreign 
 breeds would best acclimate in the country and from its breeding 
 stations has exchanged cocks and eggs of these for an equal number 
 of those of the common kind, thus placing excellent birds within easy 
 reach of the peasants. The Government recommended the Plymouth 
 Rock and Langshan chickens, the French and bronze-colored turkeys, 
 the Pekin ducks, and the Embden geese as being best adapted to the 
 country. 
 
 "Die Lamlwirtschaft Ungarns, by Dr. Alexander V, Matlekoyits, Leipzig, 1900, 
 pp. 276 ft.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 63 
 
 According to the agricultural enumeration of 1895 there is a slight 
 decrease since 1884: in the number of poultry, while the exports have 
 trebled in the same period. It is difficult to find a satisfactory expla- 
 nation of this. 
 
 NETHERLANDS. 
 
 The table below, which gives the imports and exports of eggs in the 
 trade of Netherlands for the period of 1880 to 1901, shows that the 
 general trend has been upward for the imports and also for the exports. 
 The exports at no time have been so large as the imports. 
 
 Prussia up to the year 1895 furnished very much more than half 
 of the total imports of eggs, but in 1896 Russia nearly equaled the 
 Prussian supply, increasing her supply from 911,686 kilograms in 
 1895 to 2,001,861 kilograms in 1896. The Russian supply exceeded 
 the Prussian supply after this date, except for the one year of 1900. 
 Most of the so-called Prussian eggs, however, come from Russia and 
 Austria-Hungary, and are termed Prussian in the reports because 
 custom-house officials are in the habit of crediting merchandise to the 
 country last touched without inquiring into its origin. 
 
 Imports and exports for Netherlands of eggs, 1880 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1880 
 
 Kilograms." 
 4,179,445 
 5,210,220 
 6,567,039 
 4,988,352 
 4,137,653 
 4,154,174 
 3,912,185 
 4,093,119 
 4,555,618 
 4,579,206 
 4,191,497 
 5,095,755 
 4,540,637 
 4,286,822 
 4,244,753 
 4,488,635 
 5,019,372 
 6,075,279 
 7,156,428 
 6,196,034 
 5,941,414 
 5,827,788 
 5,284,003 
 
 Dollars. 
 736,062 
 942,529 
 1,985,977 
 902, 393 
 738,501 
 751,490 
 707,714 
 740, 445 
 824, 111 
 828, 378 
 758, 242 
 921,822 
 821,398 
 773, 822 
 767, 876 
 811,994 
 908,004 
 1,099,018 
 1,294,598 
 1,120,862 
 1,074,802 
 1,054,247 
 955,876 
 
 Kilograms. 
 284, 034 
 562,527 
 361,852 
 281,308 
 248,315 
 434,223 
 344,739 
 346,979 
 574, 268 
 551,485 
 491,017 
 495,113 
 467, 957 
 489,836 
 677,217 
 1,127,543 
 1 . 989, 659 
 2,533,657 
 4,240,159 
 3, 687, 548 
 3,623,392 
 3, 747, 915 
 3,803,533 
 
 Dollars. 
 51,382 
 101,761 
 65,459 
 50,888 
 44,920 
 78,551 
 62,363 
 62, 769 
 104,285 
 99,764 
 88,825 
 99,566 
 84,654 
 88,612 
 122,508 
 203, 972 
 359,929 
 458,338 
 767,044 
 677,078 
 655,470 
 677,470 
 688,059 
 
 1881 
 
 1882 
 
 1883 
 
 1884 
 
 1885 . ... 
 
 1886 ... . 
 
 1887 
 
 1888 
 
 1889 
 
 1890 
 
 1891 ... 
 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 
 1894 
 
 1895 
 
 18% 
 
 1897 
 
 1898 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 
 
 
 The French officials estimate that 20 eggs of average size are equal to 1 kilogram.
 
 64 
 
 BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 BELGIUM. 
 
 The statistics of Belgium are full of interest as showing the import 
 and export trade for a long series of 3 r ears. 
 
 Value of the imports <nid exports for Belgium of eggs, 1831 to 
 
 Year. Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Imports. 
 
 Exports. 
 
 1831 $579 
 
 $55, 970 
 
 1866.. . 
 
 8110 782 
 
 $346 821 
 
 1,H3'> 772 
 
 61,567 
 
 . 1867 
 
 105 764 
 
 339 680 
 
 1833 772 
 
 66, 585 
 
 1868 
 
 105 764 
 
 339 873 
 
 1834 2, 895 
 
 41,495 
 
 1869 
 
 165,980 
 
 409 925 
 
 1835 3, 088 
 
 35, 898 
 
 1870 
 
 212 107 
 
 359, 559 
 
 1S36 965 
 
 31,073 
 
 1871 
 
 170 567 
 
 430, 390 
 
 1837 1,930 
 
 29, 529 
 
 1872 
 
 318 257 
 
 429, 460 
 
 1838 . 2, 316 
 
 33, 647 
 
 1873 
 
 541,944 
 
 382, 333 
 
 1839 3,744 
 
 40,916 
 
 1874 
 
 818, 127 
 
 477, 492 
 
 1840 ' 5, 397 
 
 40, 337 
 
 1875 
 
 815, 232 
 
 466,288 
 
 1811 6,562 
 
 47,864 
 
 1876 
 
 1,612,129 
 
 987, 195 
 
 1842 8,878 
 
 40,530 
 
 1877 
 
 1 , 253, 728 
 
 1,103,381 
 
 1843 9, 071 
 
 29, 722 
 
 1878 
 
 2, 157, 870 
 
 937, 787 
 
 1844 8 492 
 
 37, 635 
 
 1879 
 
 1 444 219 
 
 987 388 
 
 1845 9, 071 
 
 47, 771 
 
 1880 
 
 1,394,039 
 
 816, 969 
 
 1846 10,036 
 
 42, 460 
 
 1881 
 
 1 , 373, 295 
 
 1 , 740, 667 
 
 1847 7 141 
 
 61, 567 
 
 1882 
 
 1 356 973 
 
 1 839 097 
 
 1848 7 527 
 
 62 339 
 
 1883 
 
 1 672 924 
 
 1 003 600 
 
 1849 10 422 
 
 86 078 
 
 1884 
 
 1 757 844 
 
 1 187 529 
 
 1850 11 773 
 
 125 .585 
 
 1885 
 
 1,556 352 
 
 2 951 163 
 
 1851 12 352 
 
 138 574 
 
 1886 
 
 1 567 932 
 
 1 075 589 
 
 1852 10 422 
 
 164,050 
 
 1887 
 
 1 495 943 
 
 249 935 
 
 1853 .... 8 878 
 
 241 443 
 
 1888 
 
 1 226,647 
 
 934, 506 
 
 1854 9 071 
 
 288, 728 
 
 1889 
 
 1 213,391 
 
 869 272 
 
 18,55 8 299 
 
 445 058 
 
 1890 
 
 1 570,634 
 
 834, 532 
 
 1856 8 299 
 
 137 609 
 
 1891 .... 
 
 1,589 355 
 
 1,028,883 
 
 1857 9, 6,50 
 
 125, 257 
 
 1892 
 
 1 , 353, 895 
 
 916, 557 
 
 1858 11 001 
 
 119 467 
 
 1893 
 
 1 398 759 
 
 824 689 
 
 1859 15 613 
 
 129 696 
 
 1894 
 
 1 476 643 
 
 1 053 008 
 
 1860 17,563 
 
 191 842 
 
 1895 
 
 2 042 519 
 
 1 489 767 
 
 1861 22 581 
 
 2'>9 670 
 
 18% 
 
 2 242 467 
 
 1,746 763 
 
 1862 28757 
 
 242 601 
 
 1897 
 
 2 319 474 
 
 2 065, 486 
 
 1863 33, 1% 
 
 261,901 
 
 1898 
 
 1 971,688 
 
 1,819,183 
 
 1864 ... . 55 <170 
 
 316 90(i 
 
 1899 
 
 1 891 207 
 
 1 759 967 
 
 1865 78 944 
 
 2(56 147 
 
 1900 
 
 1 962 424 
 
 I,505 f 979 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 RUSSIA. 
 
 The exports of Russian eggs have been increasing greatly during 
 recent years, and the possibility of that country for expansion in the 
 production of poultry and eggs seems to be unlimited. The informa- 
 tion upon production, consumption, methods of shipment, etc., is very 
 meager. Some tables are given of exports of poultry and poultry 
 products over the European frontiers, but nothing is available on the 
 conditions in Asiatic Russia,
 
 POULTKY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 
 
 65 
 
 The first table gives the quantity and value of the exports of eggs 
 for a series of years, showing an increase in value from $5,226,772 in 
 1888 to $17,917,880 in 1901. A study of these figures, however, in 
 connection with similar statistics from other exporting European 
 countries, shows that the Russian eggs are considered an inferior article 
 and usually rank last in the market quotations. The eggs are not pro- 
 duced and prepared for shipment with that scrupulous care that char- 
 acterizes the work of Denmark, France, and Ireland. 
 
 The second table shows that a business of no mean importance is 
 dope in the matter of exporting egg yolks and egg whites. The busi- 
 ness in 1902 amounted to more than $90,000. 
 
 Russia is one of the leading geese-raising countries, and most of the 
 exports of this product, both alive and dead, go to Germany. The 
 table shows figures of exports of geese and other live poultry com- 
 bined for several years, but since 1899 the geese have been given 
 separately. The number exported in 1900 was 5,302,832. That is 
 only 300,000 less than the number of geese in the United States in the 
 same year. But it should be pointed out in this connection that a 
 very large number of geese are slaughtered before shipment, and 
 these form a considerable part of the exports shown in the table of 
 "Exports of dead poultry and game." It is not possible to show how 
 much of the quantities given in the table is geese or how much is 
 game, but it is quite certain that considerably more than half of the 
 total is geese. 
 
 Russian exports of eygs by European frontiers, 1888 to 1903. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Dozens. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Dozens. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1888 
 
 56, 518, 055 
 
 85, 226, 772 
 
 1896 
 
 122,312,592 
 
 811,270,366 
 
 1889 
 
 50 437,036 
 
 5, 058, 204 
 
 1897 
 
 141,894,0-54 
 
 13, 047, 793 
 
 1890. 
 
 62, .545, 728 
 
 6, 889, 555 
 
 1898 
 
 157,015,917 
 
 15,887,438 
 
 1891 
 
 69, 090, 458 
 
 6. 733, 640 
 
 1899 . ... 
 
 138, 607, 250 
 
 14,553,704 
 
 1892 
 
 60, 929, 131 
 
 5,888,000 
 
 1900 
 
 146, 234, 084 
 
 15, 835, 214 
 
 1893 
 
 64, 926, 359 
 
 6, 779, 287 
 
 1901 
 
 162, 250, 000 
 
 17,917,880 
 
 1894 
 
 78,924,002 
 
 8, 059, 422 
 
 1902 
 
 185, 750, 000 
 
 a!9,886,725 
 
 1895 
 
 116 767,903 
 
 10 249,848 
 
 1903 
 
 230 666,666 
 
 26, 265, 000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a These figures are preliminary and, in addition to the exports by the European frontier, include 
 those to Finland and from the Caucasus. 
 
 7774 No. 6504 5
 
 66 
 
 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 
 
 Russian exports of egg yolks and egg whites by European frontiers, 1888 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Egg yolks. 
 
 Egg whites. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Egg yolks. 
 
 Egg whites. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1888 
 
 Pounds. 
 2,333,586 
 2, 779, 690 
 2, 724, 004 
 2, 000, 480 
 1,136,946 
 2,214,449 
 2, 325, 063 
 3,200,117 
 
 Dollars. 
 156, 911 
 168,354 
 171,034 
 115, 844 
 65,360 
 141, 992 
 177, 743 
 284, 514 
 
 Pounds. 
 324, 150 
 378, 825 
 428, 156 
 325,811 
 269, 259 
 345, 349 
 353,655 
 492, 040 
 
 Dollars. 
 25,838 
 26, 524 
 31, 429 
 20,390 
 15, 047 
 14, 858 
 22,181 
 28,536 
 
 1896... 
 
 Pounds. 
 2,428,094 
 2, 831, 693 
 2, 307, 043 
 1,306,749 
 1, 648, 739 
 1,256,227 
 1,336,181 
 
 Dollars. 
 149, 889 
 201, 351 
 157, 656 
 84,305 
 106, 997 
 73, 051 
 80,855 
 
 Pounds. 
 422,847 
 432, 959 
 406, 091 
 177,206 
 221,012 
 94,905 
 144,452 
 
 Dollars. 
 20,258 
 20,118 
 18,244 
 10,948 
 12,700 
 5,000 
 10,300 
 
 1889 
 
 1897 
 
 1890 
 
 189 
 
 1891 . . 
 
 1899 
 
 1892 . . 
 
 1900 
 
 1893 
 
 1901 
 
 1894 
 
 1902 
 
 1895 
 
 
 
 Russian exports of geese and other poultry, 1888 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Geese andother poultry. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Geese and other poultry. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1888 
 
 Number. 
 2, 759, 533 
 3, 731, 066 
 3, 819, 657 
 4, 424, 178 
 4,834,413 
 4,507,447 
 
 Dollars. 
 1,240,402 
 1,845,000 
 2,014,807 
 2,090,367 
 2, 336, 623 
 2,285,964 
 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 
 94 
 
 Number. 
 5,050,414 
 6,028,003 
 5, 406, 725 
 6, 215, 067 
 7, 562, 709 
 
 Dollars. 
 2, 582, 524 
 2, 587, 735 
 2, 409, 000 
 2, 552, 120 
 3, 270, 154 
 
 1889 . 
 
 95 . 
 
 1890. . 
 
 96 
 
 1891 
 
 97 
 
 1892 
 
 98 
 
 1893 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 Geese. 
 
 Other poultry. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1899 
 
 Number. 
 4,999,488 
 5,302,832 
 5, 650, 715 
 5, 203, 000 
 
 Dollars. 
 2, 504, 676 
 2, 662, 239 
 2,865,981 
 2, 642, 465 
 
 Number. 
 2, 547, 323 
 2, 778, 154 
 2, 501, 311 
 3,130,000 
 
 Dollars. 
 769,354 
 690,277 
 602, 803 
 777,650 
 
 1900 
 
 1901 
 
 1902 <i 
 
 
 oThese figures are preliminary and, in addition to the exports by the European frontiers, include 
 those to Finland and from the Caucasus. 
 
 Russian exports of dead poultry and game, 1888 to 1902. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Quantity. 
 
 Value. 
 
 1888 
 
 Number. 
 2 371,940 
 
 Dollars. 
 471, 540 
 
 1896 
 
 Number. 
 
 2,271,476 
 
 Dollars. 
 876, 704 
 
 1889 
 
 2, 898, 378 
 
 704,278 
 
 1897 
 
 2, 639, 984 
 
 1,064,386 
 
 1890 
 
 1 927 486 
 
 616 229 
 
 1898 
 
 2, 340, 968 
 
 749, 856 
 
 1891 
 
 1 689 250 
 
 390 025 
 
 1899 
 
 ,2,736,192 
 
 791,3*5 
 
 1892 
 
 1,316,553 
 
 287 527 
 
 1900 
 
 3, 135, 502 
 
 1,065,135 
 
 1893 
 
 1,157,517 
 
 411,345 
 
 1901 
 
 al6,913,018 
 
 1,431,914 
 
 1894 
 
 935 565 
 
 245 594 
 
 1902 b 
 
 o!3 361,810 
 
 997, 040 
 
 1896 
 
 1,433,521 
 
 495, 116 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Pounds. 
 
 bThee figures ure preliminary tmd, in addition to the exports by the European frontiers, include 
 those to Finland and from the Caucasus, and for 1902 are for poultry only.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 67 
 
 APPENDIX I. RULES GOVERNING THE SOCIETY FOR POULTRY 
 BREEDING IN DENMARK. 
 
 [Translation by Andrew Fossum, Ph. D.] 
 A. OBJECT. 
 
 SECTION 1. The society, which has its headquarters at Aarhus, has for its object the 
 promotion of poultry keeping in Denmark. 
 
 B. MEMBERS. 
 
 SEC. 2. (a) Honorary members; (6) extraordinary members, who pay at least 50 
 kroner ($12.40) once for all, or 10 kroner ($2.68) annually; and (c) ordinary mem- 
 bers, who pay 2 kroner (53.6 cents) a year, in foreign lands 4 kroner ($1.07) a year. 
 Members are classified into county circuits. Application for membership is made 
 either to the directors or representatives of the society or to the office of the society 
 at Aarhus. Resignations must be sent in writing to the head office. A member will 
 be obliged to pay the fee for the current year, unless he sends in his resignation 
 before the first of January. In case a member refuses to pay the fee when it is due 
 his name is struck from the membership list. By a unanimous vote directors may 
 strike the names of members from the list. An excluded member may appeal to the 
 representatives. The annual fee is due in January and is collected in February 
 through the mails. Twenty-five per cent of the fees from members goes to the 
 county circuit. Apportionments are made on April 1 and December 31 of each year. 
 Honorary members are admitted by a two-thirds vote of the representatives present 
 at a meeting, on the recommendation of the directors. 
 
 C. DIRECTORATE. 
 
 SEC. 3. The directorate consists of seven members, of whom, as a rule, there are 
 three from Jutland, one from Fyn, two from Sjalland and Bornholm, and one from 
 Lolland-Falster. These choose from their own number a president and a vice-presi- 
 dent for one year. The president, vice-president, and secretary are the executive 
 committee. The directors define the authority of the executive committee. Of the 
 directors, two retire the first two years by lots, and three the third year in the same 
 manner, and so on by turns. 
 
 SEC. 4. The president, or in his absence the vice-president, represents the society 
 and summons the executive committee and directorate to meetings, which must also 
 be held when more than one-half of either make such a demand. Meetings are 
 called at least one week in advance by letter, in which is contained also the order 
 of the day. The meetings may act when more than one-half of their members are 
 present. The president presides at all the meetings, also at those of the representa- 
 tives, and orders the payment of bills against the society. 
 
 SEC. 5. The secretary, who is also treasurer, is chosen by the directorate. In case 
 of a change of secretary the salary and office expenses are decided on by the repre- 
 sentatives on the recommendation of the directorate. The secretary is to keep a 
 membership list, conduct the correspondence, keep the minutes of the meetings, 
 edit the reports, receive the annual fees and charges for advertisements, and present 
 the financial statement for the year, which is to go to the auditors at the latest in the 
 January quarter. 
 
 SEC. 6. The society appoints an adviser, who is nominated by the directors, but 
 whose salary is determined by the representatives on the recommendation of the 
 directors. The directors instruct him as to his duties. 
 
 D. COMMITTEES. 
 
 SEC. 7. The following standing committees are appointed: (1) The ]>eriodical, 
 library, lectures, prize competitions, adviser, etc. (2) Distribution of breeds, breed-
 
 68 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 ing centers, feeding of young chickens, trade in the products of poultry, breeding, 
 awarding of prizes to well-conducted and profitable poultry runs, etc. (3) Poultry 
 shows. The committees consist of three members each, of whom the directors elect 
 one. The committees choose their own chairmen and distribute the work among 
 themselves. The committees meet as often as the chairmen find it necessary. 
 
 SEC. 8. Besides traveling expenses over the shortest route by first-class steamer 
 and second-class railway, directors and members of committees receive an allowance 
 of 6 kroner ($1.61) per day while in the service of the society. 
 
 E. AUDITING. 
 
 SEC. 9. The representatives elect annually two auditors to revise the current 
 expenses of the year. The financial year is the same as the calendar year. The 
 auditors must complete their work at the latest one month after receiving the finan- 
 cial statement. 
 
 SEC. 10. "The financial statement, with any notes concerning it, is returned to the 
 president, who allows the secretary an opportunity to express himself regarding these 
 before he presents it to the representatives for adoption. 
 
 F. REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 SEC. 11. The representative body is the supreme authority in the society. It is 
 composed of the presidents and vice-presidents of the county circuits, with the sec- 
 retaries as substitutes (Copenhagen is considered one county), and consists of twelve 
 members from Sjiilland, two from Bornholm, four from Fyn, two from Lolland- 
 Falster, and twenty from Jutland; total, forty. 
 
 SEC. 12. As a rule the society holds one meeting a year. The call is to appear in 
 the Periodical for Poultry Breeding at least two weeks before the meeting. The 
 meeting is legal if it has been summoned in due form and more than one-half of its 
 members are present. Extraordinary meetings of the representatives may be sum- 
 moned by the president, who is required to do so when more than one-half of the 
 presidents of the county circuits demand it. 
 
 SEC. 13. The meeting is held in the early summer, usually in connection with the 
 annual exhibition. 
 
 SEC\ 14. Every member of the society is admitted to the meeting of the society. 
 Only members of the directorate, representatives, and honorary members are entitled 
 to take part in the discussions and vote at the meeting. 
 
 SEC. 15. The directors shall present at the regular meetings of the representatives 
 (a) the audited financial statement of the last year for adoption; (b) the plan of work 
 for the society in the coming year; (c) the budget; (d) the election of two auditors 
 for the current year in accordance with section 9; (e) the election of directors in 
 accordance with section 3; (/) the election of committees according to section 7, 
 and (g) the election of judges for the next exhibition. 
 
 SEC. 16. Any representative may make inquiries of the directorate and send in, 
 either from himself or from other members, subjects for discussion at the meeting. 
 These must, however, reach the directorate four weeks before the meeting of the 
 representatives. Subjects arriving later should be reported to the meeting, but can 
 not, without the consent of the directorate, be discussed or voted upon. So far as 
 possible, the directors should print and forward to the representatives before the 
 meeting the subjects for discussion. The directorate determines the order in which 
 the subjects for discussion are to be taken up. 
 
 SEC. 17. The representatives can by a majority vote pass resolutions in any matter 
 pertaining to the society. Voting is done by show of hands or, if five of the members 
 of the meeting so desire, by ballot. 
 
 SEC. 18. The representatives traveling by first-class steamer or second-class rail- 
 way over the shortest route to and from the meetings have their expenses paid. 
 Their board is also paid by the county circuit in accordance with the decisions of the 
 circuit a to details.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 69 
 
 G. PERIODICAL. 
 
 SEC. 19. The head and county circuits have a common organ, which is sent free to 
 all members. It appears at least twice a month. The directors choose the editor 
 and the representatives determine his salary in accordance with the recommendation 
 of the directors. 
 
 H. CHANGE OF RULES. 
 
 SEC. 20. In case of doubt as to the correct interpretation or application of the 
 rules the directors decide, subject to appeal to the representatives. 
 
 SEC. 21. Only a meeting duly summoned and attended by the representatives of 
 more than one-half of the counties can by a two-thirds majority vote make changes 
 in or additions to these rules. In case a meeting can not legally act, a new meeting 
 is called, which may decide the matter by a simple majority vote. 
 
 Thus adopted at the meeting of the representatives at Slagelse in 1902. 
 
 By-Laws of the Society for Poultry Breeding- in Denmark Circuit Society 
 
 in County. 
 
 A. THE OBJECT OF THE CIRCUIT. 
 
 SECTION 1. The object of the circuit is to work for the promotion of poultry breed- 
 ing in county, and this is sought by exhibitions, pamphlets, meetings, lectures, 
 
 and in any other way that the directors find suited to their purpose. The circuit is 
 a section of the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark. 
 
 B. MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 SEC. 2. On application to the directors of the circuit, anyone may become a mem- 
 ber of the circuit and thereby of the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark. 
 Members may be excluded by the unanimous vote of the directorate; yet an excluded 
 member may appeal to the first general meeting. 
 
 SEC. 3. The means of the circuit are as follows: Twenty-five per cent of the fees of 
 the members of the Society for Poultry Breeding in County; honorary prizes 
 from the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark to the exhibition of the circuit; 
 gifts received on application from savings banks, etc., in the county; State subsidies 
 for the annual exhibition, obtained chiefly through local agricultural societies; other 
 contributions from persons interested in the work. 
 
 SEC. 4. Every new member receives, on paying his initiation fee, a copy of the 
 rules of the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark and by-laws of the circuit. 
 
 C. THE DIRECTORATE. 
 
 SEC. 5. The directorate consists of at least three members, chosen from the total 
 number of members of the circuit. Of their own number they choose, for one year 
 at a time, a president, vice-president, and secretary and treasurer. The president 
 and vice-president, with the secretary as a substitute, are representatives in the 
 Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark. 
 
 SEC. 6. The president summons the directors to meetings one week in advance; 
 and meetings must be held when more than one-half of the directors demand it in 
 writing. In order that the resolutions of the directors may be valid, more than one- 
 half of the directors must be present. The president presides and directs the discus- 
 sions in the meetings of the directors and in the general meetings. He looks after 
 the general interests of the circuit and decides current matters which he does not 
 deem sufficiently important to lay before the directors as a body. In the absence 
 of the president the vice-president takes his place.
 
 70 BUBEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 SEC. 7. The secretary of the circuit, who is also treasurer, conducts the correspond- 
 ence of the society, keeps the minutes of all the meetings, arranges shows and 
 exhibitions, provides office room, and keeps the archives of the society, and, under 
 the direction of the president, transacts all the business of the society; keeps a 
 correct list of the members of the society, which list is always to be on hand at the 
 meetings. He makes up the accounts of the year, which must be sent to the audi- 
 tors at the latest one month after the close of the financial year. The auditors return 
 the audited accounts to the president, who allows the secretary an opportunity to 
 express himself regarding the report of the auditors, and submits the accounts to the 
 directorate and to the general meeting. 
 
 D. THE GENERAL MEETINGS AND THE MEETINGS FOR DISCUSSION. 
 
 SEC. 8. The circuit holds an annual general meeting in the spring, usually in the 
 month of March. The announcement appears at least two weeks in advance in the 
 Poultry Journal, which is the paper of the society and which is sent free to all 
 members. The other meetings of the circuit are announced in the same way. The 
 president may call extraordinary meetings, and is obliged to do so when more than 
 one-half of the directorate or twenty of the members of the society request it in 
 writing. 
 
 SEC. 9. A plan for the activity of the circuit in the following year is submitted to 
 the general meeting with the necessary information as to the financial condition of 
 the society. There is to be submitted to the general meeting, furthermore, (a) the 
 audited accounts of the last financial year for adoption; (b) in case an exhibition 
 and prizes are proposed, a program worked out in detail as to divisions into classes 
 and size of prizes; (c) a committee of judges for the exhibition is elected; (d) two 
 auditors of the accounts of the current year are chosen; (e) directors for the following 
 year are chosen. The choice is for two years, but the first year one more than one- 
 half withdraws; the second year the remainder withdraws; the first time by lots, 
 later by turns. 
 
 SEC. 10. The president receives, by March 1 , any proposition that a member may 
 desire to have discussed by the meeting. 
 
 SEC. 11. The general meeting may, when it is legally summoned, pass resolutions 
 in any affair of the society. Propositions to change the rules must formerly have 
 been discussed, and, in calling the meeting, the announcement must be made that a 
 vote will be taken to change the rules and that changes are made by a two-thirds 
 majority of the members present. In order to be valid, the resolution must be rati- 
 fied by the representatives of the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark. 
 
 SEC. 12. Members vote by show of hands, or by ballot when two of the members 
 so desire. Members present may, when so empowered, vote by proxy, but no one 
 shall cast more than five votes. 
 
 E. EXHIBITION. 
 
 SEC. 13. In case the circuit decides to hold an exhibition and award prizes, it 
 selects, in order to pass upon the exhibits, not less than three judges, of whom the 
 circuit chooses two and a substitute and the Society for Poultry Breeding in Denmark 
 the third and a substitute. 
 
 SEC. 14. The judges are required, unless they judge by points, to give reasons for 
 their decisions. The memoranda of the judges are entered on the minutes of the 
 society. 
 
 SEC. 15. The president and vice-president of the society, or, in their failure to go, 
 the secretary, have their expenses to the meetings of the representatives of the Society 
 for Poultry Breeding in Denmark paid in proportion to the length of the journey, 
 according to the detailed resolutions of the circuit. 
 
 Thus adopted at the meeting of representatives at Slagelse, 1902.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 71 
 
 APPENDIX II. RULES OF THE SOCIETY FOB THE PROMOTION OF 
 POULTRY BREEDING IN DENMARK. 
 
 [Translation by Andrew Fossum, Ph. D.] 
 A. OBJECT. 
 
 SECTION 1. The object of the society is to further poultry breeding, especially 
 chicken breeding, and the egg trade in Denmark. 
 
 SEC. 2. The society strives to attain this by (a) the distribution of pamphlets; (b) 
 by holding exhibitions, discussions, and lectures; (c) by directions and information 
 regarding poultry matters; (d) by establishing experiment stations and distributing 
 poultry and selling eggs of pure breeds. 
 
 B. MEMBERS. 
 
 SEC. 3. The members are (a) honorary members, who may be chosen at the meet- 
 ings of the representatives on the recommendation of the directorate; (b) extraordinary 
 members any member who has paid into the treasury at one time not less than 50 
 kroner ($13.40) may become an extraordinary member; (c) ordinary members, who 
 pay an annual fee of (1) 2 kroner (53.6 cents) in case they live in Denmark, (2) 3 
 kroner (80.4 cents) in case they live abroad. The directors may, when the circum- 
 stances require it, increase or decrease the fee and accept poor members free of charge. 
 The fee for the current year is collected in January in advance. Application for 
 admission goes to the office of the society. Withdrawal is sent in writing to the 
 same office, and must be in before the first of December; otherwise a member is 
 obliged to pay the fee for the following year. In case a member refuses to pay the 
 fee when it is due his name is dropped from the membership list. Members may 
 be excluded by a two-thirds vote of the representatives present on the unanimous 
 recommendation of the directors. 
 
 C. DIRECTORATE. 
 
 SEC. 4. The directorate consists of nine members chosen by the representatives 
 from their own members at their meeting. Three withdraw annually by turns. The 
 directorate chooses its own president and vice-president. In years when the society 
 gives exhibitions the directorate may add to their number; the directorate thus 
 increased constitute the exhibition committee. 
 
 SEC. 5. The president represents the society and calls the meetings of the directo- 
 rate. Meetings must also be held when more than one-half of the directors so desire. 
 Resolutions are binding if more than one-half of the directors are present. The 
 president or vice-president presides at the meetings of the directorate. 
 
 SEC. 6. The directorate appoint a business manager, fix his salary, and instruct him 
 regarding his course of action. The manager acts as secretary and treasurer, and is 
 present at all the meetings; he also gives security in the amount of at least 2,000 
 kroner ($536). He can not vote unless he is a member of the directorate. 
 
 SEC. 7. The manager is required to have an office at Copenhagen. He keeps a list 
 of the members, the minutes of the meetings of the directors and representatives, 
 conducts the correspondence, preserves and arranges the archives, edits the reports 
 of the meetings of the representatives, receives the fees of the members, and submits 
 the annual accounts. These he sends in the January quarter to the president, who 
 forwards them to the auditors. Bills can be paid only when they are approved by 
 the president or vice-president. 
 
 SEC. 8. Matters to be decided by the representatives and requiring expedition 
 may in exceptional cases be decided by the directorate without a meeting by let- 
 ting the representatives vote by letter, the directors mailing voting blanks to the 
 representatives.
 
 72 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 D. REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 SEC. 9. The directorate are elected and assisted by a body of representatives consist 
 ing of thirty members fifteen from Copenhagen and fifteen from the rest of the 
 country. One-third withdraw annually by turns. Representatives and substitutes 
 are chosen by the ordinary members of the society by majority vote. The election 
 takes place at the meeting of the representatives and must be announced two weeks 
 in advance in the Poultry Journal. No one can vote by proxy. If any meeting 
 does not have at least one hundred voting members present not counting represent- 
 atives and directors the election goes to the meeting of representatives and direct- 
 ors. Directors and representatives have the right to vote as ordinary members. 
 Admission to the meetings of the representatives is open to all members, but only 
 directors and representatives, except in accordance with the rules above, have the 
 right to vote. Directors have no vote in electing directors. The representatives 
 supervise the actions of the directors through auditors chosen by the representatives. 
 
 SEC. 10. The society holds annual meetings of the representatives at Copenhagen. 
 In exhibition years the representatives hold their meeting during the exhibition. 
 Notice of the meeting appears in the paper of the society four weeks in advance. The 
 representatives are furnished with the order of the day and an abstract of the accounts 
 at least two weeks before the meeting. When a member can not be present, he shall 
 notify the directors at least five days in advance. The directorate may summon a 
 substitute to take the place of such a member. The president shall call extra meet- 
 ings of the representatives when more than one-half of the directors and representa- 
 tives demand them. 
 
 SEC. 11. Members have free admission to all the exhibitions of the society. 
 
 SEC. 12. The directors shall present at the annual meetings of the representatives 
 (a) the audited accounts of the previous year for adoption; (6) the plan of work for 
 the coming year; (c) the plan of the exhibition in case one is to occur in the coming 
 year; (d) nominations of judges for the exhibition; (e) two auditors and two sub- 
 stitutes for the next financial year; (/) choice of directors; (g) choice of represent- 
 atives and substitutes; (h) selection of the next meeting place. The directors and 
 representatives together choose a chairman, who can not speak, however, without 
 the consent of the meeting. 
 
 SEC. 13. Any representative may make inquiries of the directorate and send in 
 subjects for discussion at the meetings of the representatives. These he must send 
 at least four weeks in advance. Subjects arriving later may be reported to the meet- 
 ing, but can not be discussed. So far as possible, the directors are to print and for- 
 ward to the representatives before the meeting the subjects for discussion. 
 
 SEC. 14. By majority vote the representatives pass resolutions on any matter per- 
 taining to the society. Changes in the rules can be made only when the representa- 
 tives have received notice in advance that such propositions are forthcoming, and 
 when two-thirds of the representatives vote for their adoption at two successive 
 meetings. 
 
 SEC. 15. Voting is done by raising the hand, or by ballot if one member of the 
 meeting demands it. Ballots must not be signed. 
 
 SEC. 16. Directors and representatives receive free passage to and from the meet- 
 ings over the shortest route by first-class steamship and second-class railway.
 
 POULTRY ATSD EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 73 
 
 APPENDIX III. RULES OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROFITABLE 
 POULTRY BREEDING. 
 
 [Translation by Andrew Possum, Ph. D.]- 
 
 SECTION 1. The society, whose headquarters are located at Copenhagen, exists for 
 the sole purpose of breeding useful poultry, and to the exclusion of those used for 
 sport. 
 
 SEC. 2. It strives to attain this object by (a) establishing as many centers as possi- 
 ble in all the counties, the especial duties of which shall be to exchange and dis- 
 tribute free of cost eggs and fowls of pure breeds, and to sell breeding stock, and 
 freely to give advice in rational poultry breeding; (b) holding poultry shows in con- 
 nection with the agricultural exhibitions in the provinces; (c) furthering in general 
 the production and exportation of eggs and poultry; (d) awarding prizes to private 
 poultry runs on the basis of their profitableness; (e) instructive lectures; (/) the 
 eventual appointment of itinerant instructors or advisers in poultry keeping; (g) the 
 eventual publication of a periodical. 
 
 SEC. 3. The members are: () Honorary members nominated by the directors and 
 elected at a regular meeting of the representatives by a two-thirds majority; (b) 
 extraordinary members, who, by paying once for all a fee of 50 kroner ($13.40), are 
 henceforth considered life members; (r) regular members, who pay to the society an 
 annual fee of at least 2 kroner (53.6 cents) ; cottagers and those who are similarly 
 situated, hoover, pay only 1 krone (26.8 cents) a year. 
 
 SEC. 4. Members may be admitted at any time by the directorate or by the repre- 
 sentatives, and also at the poultry centers. Withdrawals, on the other hand, must 
 be made in writing to the treasurer before the end of December. A member may be 
 excluded from the society by a two-thirds vote of the directors. This decision can 
 not be appealed. 
 
 Members pay their first annual fee when they are admitted to the society, and 
 afterwards in the first half of the month of December; otherwise it is collected through 
 the mails. 
 
 SEC. 5. The directorate consists of fifteen members, who elect their own officers, 
 viz, president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. In the absence of the presi- 
 dent the vice-president takes his place. The members of the directorate are elected 
 at the regular meetings of the representatives, for three years. After the expiration 
 of the first three years one-third retire annually, the first two times by lot, afterwards 
 by turns. In case more than three members of the directorate withdraw or retire 
 between the annual meetings of the representatives, the representatives must be sum- 
 moned in extra session to fill the vacancies for the unexpired terms. Retiring mem- 
 bers may be reelected. 
 
 SEC. 6. The president represents the society and calls a meeting of the directors 
 as often as he-deems it necessary. The directors also may demand a meeting. 
 
 The president presides at all the meetings of the directorate, and, in case of a tie, 
 has the deciding vote. 
 
 SEC. 7. The secretary conducts the correspondence, superintends the distribution of 
 the periodical, makes the announcements in the papers, assists the treasurer in pre- 
 paring the financial statement, and keeps the minutes of the meetings of the directors 
 and representatives. The representatives determine the annual salary of the secretary. 
 The treasurer keeps the records and lists of meml)ers, sees to it that the fees are col- 
 lected in accordance with section 4, and keeps an account of the finances. Under ordi- 
 nary circumstances no bills must be paid without being previously referred to the 
 president or vice-president. 
 
 SEC. 8. The society has, as already indicated in sections 4 and 5, a body of repre- 
 sentatives who represent the meinlwrs. The representatives shall number thirty- 
 eight two from each county. They are elected directly by the members in the
 
 74 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 counties, for a term of three years at a time. After the lapse of the first three years 
 one of the representatives retires by lot. The retiring member may be reelected. 
 
 SEC. 9. The representatives assemble ordinarily once a year before August 1, on a 
 date fixed by the directors, but an extra meeting may be called at any time by the 
 directors; also nineteen representatives, assigning the cause in writing to the direc- 
 tors, may demand an extra meeting. 
 
 SEC. 10. At the regular annual meeting of the representatives the president of the 
 directors presents: (a) The report of the transactions in the past year; (6) the 
 audited accounts for ratification; (c) a plan of work for the coming year; (d) a draft 
 of instructions for the judges at the poultry shows. 
 
 Hereupon they proceed to elect the directors and two auditors to audit the accounts 
 of the ensuing year. 
 
 SEC. 11. Any member of the society may attend the meetings of the representa- 
 tives, but only representatives can vote. Members have everywhere free admission 
 to the shows. 
 
 SEC. 12. The representatives must be informed by letter of the dates of the meet- 
 ings, as well as the subjects for discussion, at least three weeks in advance. Any. 
 member of the society may send in a subject for discussion at the meeting of the 
 representatives; it must, however, be sent to a representative at least four weeks 
 before the meeting and by him forwarded to the president. 
 
 SEC. 13. The representatives are the last resort in the affairs of the society; a sim- 
 ple majority decides. In electing directors any member may demand a ballot; only 
 such representatives as are present at a meeting are entitled to vote. 
 
 SEC. 14. After being laid before the directors, the statement of accounts is turned 
 over by the president to the auditors before the end of February. It is later pre- 
 sented at the regular meeting of the representatives. 
 
 SEC. 15. It will be necessary that two-thirds of the representatives be present and 
 that three-fourths of these vote for a motion in order to change the constitution or 
 dissolve the society. 
 
 SEC. 16. Representatives are entitled to choose at least one deputy for each parish 
 to assist them in the work of the society. 
 
 SEC. 17. The society pays the traveling expenses of the representatives and direct- 
 ors to and from the meetings by first or second class railway or steamer, and by the 
 shortest route. 
 
 APPENDIX IV. RULES GOVERNING THE DANISH COOPERATIVE 
 EGG EXPORT SOCIETY. 
 
 [Translation by Andrew Possum, Ph. D.] 
 THE SOCIETY. 
 
 SECTION 1. The name of the cooperative society is the "Danish Cooperative Egg 
 Export." 
 
 SEC. 2. The cooperative society, which came into existence on April 20, 1895, has, 
 since April 20, 1900, been located and incorporated at Copenhagen. The main office 
 may be transferred to any other place in Denmark whenever the directors and the 
 representatives so decide. 
 
 SEC. 3. The principal object of the society is to provide the best possible market 
 abroad for Danish eggs by guaranteeing to the customers that eggs, delivered with 
 the registered trade-mark as fresh eggs, are absolutely new-laid and clean. Further- 
 more, it is the object of the society to protect in every way the interests of egg 
 producers, and may include the preservation and the sale of eggs or the fattening of 
 poultry belonging to members of the cooperative society, also to further promote 
 well-conducted poultry breeding and poultry keeping.
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 75 
 
 THE CIRCUITS. 
 
 SEC. 4. The cooperative society consists of circuits of not less than ten members. 
 Exceptions to this rule may be made by the joint action of the directors and the 
 representatives. Every circuit that has joined the cooperative society is bound in 
 every way by the laws in force from time to time. The directors of the circuit shall 
 see to it that the rules of the circuit are in harmony with those of the society. 
 
 SEC. 5. When a circuit desires to join the cooperative society the directors of the 
 circuit notify the president of the cooperative society in writing. Such an entrance 
 is binding for at least one year. A copy of the rules of the circuit, signed by the 
 directors of the circuit, and a membership list with the number, name, and occupa- 
 tion of each member, must accompany the notification. Furthermore, the circuit is 
 required to pay, as an entrance fee, to the cooperative society, 50 ore [about 13J 
 cents] for each of its members. For each new member 50 ore [about 13 cents] are 
 likewise paid, unless the new member takes the place of a withdrawing member. 
 The president of the cooperative society shall be immediately informed in writing 
 by the president of the circuit of the admission of new members into the circuit. 
 The directors may refuse the admission of circuits or members of circuits. Appeal 
 from the decision of the directors can be made to the representatives and the general 
 meeting. Withdrawal, which is effected in the same manner as admission, can be 
 granted only on the first of January, after at least three months' notice. 
 
 SEC. 6. Each circuit that has been admitted into the cooperative society is 
 required to deliver all the eggs collected from the members. Eggs over seven days old 
 must not be delivered in the circuit. Violation of this rule, as well as delivering 
 spoiled eggs, is punishable by a fine of 5 kroner [$1.34], and, if repeated, the fine 
 may be increased to 10 kroner [$2.68]. At the beginning of each calendar year 
 only 5 kroner are imposed for the first offense. One-half of the fine goes to the 
 cooperative society and the other half to the circuit in question. The fine is 
 imposed by the directors of the cooperative society, whose decision can not be 
 appealed. The costs of a suit to collect the fine are paid by the one on whom the 
 fine is imposed, the ordinance of August 6, 1824, notwithstanding. ' 
 
 SEC. 7. The circuits must not retain the eggs received more than four days before 
 forwarding them to the society. The directors of the cooperative society may, how- 
 ever, according to circumstances, make exceptions in this matter, as well as in the 
 time limit for delivering, heretofore mentioned in section 6. The eggs must be deliv- 
 ered absolutely clean, and, in order that their origin may be traced, must be dis- 
 tinctly stamped with the number of the circuit and the number of the member, 
 according to the membership list. The society may refuse to accept eggs that do not 
 answer these conditions, or discount them in price. In order that the stamping of 
 eggs may be uniform, each circuit must provide its members with ink and rubber 
 stamps from dealers approved by the society. 
 
 SEC. 8. If a circuit has not delivered all the eggs collected during the year to the 
 cooperative society, or if it has kept the eggs beyond the time specified in section 7, 
 it loses its share of the annual surplus and reserve fund for the year in question, and 
 the directors of the cooperative society have, furthermore, the right to consider said 
 circuit as having withdrawn at the close of the financial year. 
 
 The directors may exclude circuits or members of circuits. An appeal from such 
 decision may be made to the representatives or to the general meeting, but not to 
 the courts. The stamps of circuits that have withdrawn or have been excluded must 
 be sent to the main office as soon as possible without reimbursement. Circuits or 
 members of circuits that have withdrawn or have been excluded have no claims 
 whatsoever to the property, surplus, or reserve fund of the cooperative society. 
 
 SEC. 9. The freight on eggs by railway or steamer is paid by the main office, but 
 any amount exceeding 1 ore [less than one-half cent] per pound of eggs, net weight 
 for each shipment, is charged to the circuit.
 
 76 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 THE DIRECTORATE. 
 
 SEC. 10. The directorate consists of the president and four other members. They 
 are elected by the general meeting the president for five years and the other mem- 
 bers for two years each, in such a manner that two withdraw in their turn each 
 year. Members may be reelected at the expiration of their terms. The directors choose 
 a vice-president from their own members. The executive committee consists of the 
 president, manager, and a member elected by the directors from their own number. 
 Two of its members may continue to fix the quotations on export eggs and sign 
 papers on the part of the society. In case one of the directors dies or resigns, or for 
 some other reason ceases to hold office, the representatives may fill the vacancy. If 
 the president ceases to officiate, the vice-president may act and draw the salary of the 
 president until the next regular general meeting, unless the directors deem it necessary 
 to call an extra general meeting to fill the vacancy. Excepting the president, the 
 members of the directorate draw no salary, but while performing their duties they 
 receive 6 kroner [$1.61] per day and traveling expenses by first-class steamer or 
 second-class railway, as well as 1 krone [26.8 cents] per mile for conveyance by 
 carriage. 
 
 SEC. 11. The directorate determines upon the methods of business, appoints a 
 manager and the other permanent officers, but the representatives fix their pay. 
 The president calls a meeting of the directors when he finds occasion to do so, or when 
 at least three directors request it. If possible, the call is made seven days before the 
 meeting. The president presides at the meetings; resolutions are passed by simple 
 majority in such a way that a legal resolution always requires three votes. The pres- 
 ident of the representatives is entitled to attend the meeting, but is without vote. 
 
 SEC. 12. The president directs the business of the cooperative society, being 
 responsible for the management. He represents the society in courts. The salary 
 of the president is 5,500 kroner [$1,474] a year, and, by way of percentage, a half a 
 krone [13.4 cents] per thousand of the volume of transactions of the last business 
 year exceeding 3,000,000 kroner [$804,000]. Traveling in the interests of the society 
 the president receives the same allowance for expenses as the members of the 
 directorate. 
 
 THE REPRESENTATION. 
 
 SEC. 13. The representative body, which consists of one member from each district, 
 is chosen for four years, one-half retiring every other year. The election takes place 
 at the regular general meeting, when the deputies assemble by districts and choose 
 one representative for each district. Retiring representatives may be reelected. Thp 
 representatives choose a president and vice-president from their own number to serve 
 for two years. The president summons the representatives as often as he or five 
 other members deem it necessary. A notice of seven days, if possible, should be 
 given. At the meetings a secretary is chosen to keep the minutes in which the dis- 
 cussions and the votes are recorded. The minutes are signed by all the representa- 
 tives after being read. The president presides at the meetings. The directors take 
 part in the discussions, but have no vote. 
 
 SEC. 14. The directors must submit all important matters not pertaining to the 
 daily routine to the representatives, unless a matter can not be delayed, in which 
 case the directors decide and bring it before the representatives at a later date. Abso- 
 lute majority, or at least ten votes, are required to decide a question. The represent- 
 atives draw no regular salary, but receive the same daily pay and traveling expenses 
 as the directors. If a representative dies, or withdraws, or resigns, or from some 
 other cause ceases to act, the deputies of his district fill the vacancy at the first 
 general meeting. 
 
 THE AUDITORS. 
 
 SEC. 15. The auditors are to be two business men nominated by the representa- 
 tives and chosen by the general meeting for two years in each case; they retire in
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 77 
 
 alternate years, the first one by lot (at the end of the first year). Furthermore, two 
 business men are chosen as substitutes. The auditors shall audit the accounts at least 
 once a month. They have at all times unhindered opportunity to inspect the opera- 
 tions of the society, especially by examining the stock and the cash on hand, the 
 books and accounts, other records, etc. 
 
 Should the auditors fi'nd occasion for censure, they shall report to the president of 
 the society and the manager is required to comply with his directions until the 
 matter can be decided at a meeting of the directors. When both auditors are agreed 
 they can demand a meeting of the directors or of the representatives. The auditors 
 may be summoned to the meeting of the directors, but they have no vote. The pay 
 of the auditors is determined by the representatives, upon the recommendation of 
 the directors. 
 
 THE GENERAL MEETING. 
 
 SEC. 16. The general meeting consists of the directors, the representatives, and a 
 deputy from each circuit of at least ten members; the directors and representatives, 
 however, have no vote unless they be deputies at the same time. The deputy must 
 bring credentials from the directors of his circuit. A deputy from Bornholm may 
 represent as many as five circuits. 
 
 SEC. 17. A regular general meeting shall be called annually in the last half of the 
 month of March. Extra general meetings shall be held when the directors deem it 
 necessary, or when demanded by one-tenth of the circuits or by one-half of the 
 representatives. The extra general meeting shall be held within one month after 
 such a demand has been made. The general meeting is called by the directors in 
 writing to the presidents of the circuits at least fourteen days before the meeting. 
 The call shaii, so far as possible, be accompanied by the order of business. Time 
 and place of meeting are announced in the organ of the society. 
 
 Propositions to be discussed in the regular general meeting must be reported to the 
 president by February 20, and propositions to be discussed at the extra general meet- 
 ings must be forwarded to the president when the demand for such meetings is made. 
 Immediately before the regular general meeting the representatives hold a meeting 
 at which all the matters in the order of the day of the general meeting are discussed; 
 the representatives may, by a three-fourths majority, refuse to submit any of the 
 matters to the general meeting, thereby causing them to be dropped from the order 
 of the day; matters mentioned in section 19 and complaints which, according to sec- 
 tions 5 and 8, can be appealed to the general meeting are excepted. 
 
 SEC. 18. The general meeting elects a chairman, a secretary, and two tellers. The 
 secretary shall keep a record of the transactions and votes of the general meeting. 
 The record is signed by the chairman and the executive committee; it is admitted 
 as full evidence regarding the transactions of the general meeting. Decisions are 
 made by majority, except in cases where, according to the rules, a qualified majority 
 is required. In case of a tie, the president's vote decides. Voting is done by ballot, 
 if the president so decides, or at the request of at least twenty members. Admission 
 cards to the general meeting must be shown in order to vote. On the motion of the 
 executive committee or of the president, a deputy may be excluded from the general 
 meeting by majority. This decision can not be made the cause of a lawsuit. 
 
 SEC. 19. At a regular general meeting the following is the order of business: (a) 
 Report on the operations of the cooperative society in the past financial year; (ft) to 
 adopt the accounts, after being audited; (r) the eventual choice ot a president; (rf) 
 to choose members of the executive committee; (e) the eventual choice of representa- 
 tives; (/) the choice of one auditor and one substitute; (g) the selection of a place 
 for the next general meeting. 
 
 THE RESERVE FUND. 
 
 SEC. 20. One-half of the net surplus of the previous year is paid in October to the 
 circuits in proportion to the value of eggs delivered, while the remainder is put away
 
 78- BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
 
 as a reserve fund. This is used in the business, but is credited in a separate account 
 to the circuits in proportion to the value of eggs delivered. 
 
 The sums credited in this account can be paid only when the society is dissolved, 
 unless in the opinion of the executive committee there is no use for the entire 
 amount. The share in the reserve fund belonging to an individual member or to a 
 circuit is not amenable to attachment by creditors, yet claims of the cooperative 
 society against said parties are excepted. At the eventual settlement with the cir- 
 cuits the earliest series are paid off first. The shares of the circuit in the reserve 
 fund draw an annual interest of 4 per cent, which is paid at the same time as the 
 surplus. 
 
 THE MANAGEMENT. 
 
 SEC. 21. The money of the society must be deposited in the bank designated by 
 the representatives. Payments are made by the bank on the order of two members 
 of the executive committee. The payments to the circuits for the eggs that have 
 been received shall be made as soon as possible. 
 
 SEC. 22. Under the supervision of the president, the manager is in charge of the 
 daily operations in accordance with the instructions received from the executive 
 committee. He is to keep the storehouse and contents insured against fire and the 
 eggs shipped insured against losses at sea. 
 
 SEC. 23. The president, manager, treasurer, and branch managers must give suffi- 
 cient bonds for the property entrusted to them. Contracts and affidavits are brought 
 before the representatives for ratification. 
 
 SEC. 24. The cooperative society can only be dissolved by a two-thirds majority 
 vote at two successive general meetings. Changes in the rules can only be made 
 when at least two-thirds of the members present at the general meeting thus decide. 
 
 SEC. 25. At the eventual dissolution of the society its property shall be turned 
 into cash. Thereupon all the outside obligations of the society shall be paid first. 
 In case a part of the reserve fund is used for this purpose, the remainder is divided 
 among the circuits in proportion to the amounts with which they are credited in the 
 account of the reserve fund. In case there is a surplus on hand, it is to be divided 
 among the circuits in proportion to the value of the eggs delivered in the financial 
 year immediately preceding the dissolution. 
 
 SEC. 26. These rules go into effect April 1, 1902. 
 
 Adopted in the general meeting at Copenhagen March 22, 1902. 
 
 Rules of Circuit No. of the Danish Cooperative Egg Export Society. 
 
 SECTION 1. The circuit belongs to the cooperative society "The Danish Coopera- 
 tive Egg Export" and is required to conform to the rules of the same that are in 
 force from time to time. 
 
 SEC. 2. Members are admitted by applying to the directors of the circuit. Each 
 member pays to the Danish Cooperative Egg Export 50 ore [about 13J cents] as 
 admission fee and 1 ore per hen to the circuit. 
 
 SEC. 3. All members are, without any declaration on their part, subject to the 
 circuit laws as they now are or as they may be legally changed hereafter. 
 
 SEC. 4. Members are required to deliver all the eggs (so many as are required for 
 the household or for setting or have been casually found are excepted) in such a way 
 and at such times as are fixed by the directors of the circuit. This agreement is 
 binding for one year at a time. 
 
 SEC. 5. Eggs over seven days old must not be delivered. A violation of this, as 
 well as delivering spoiled eggs, is punishable by a fine of 5 kroner [f 1.34], imposed 
 by the directors of the cooperative society; and, ii repeated, the fine may be increased 
 to 10 kroner [$2.68]. One half of the fine goes to the Danish Cooperative Society,
 
 POULTRY AND EGGS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. 79 
 
 the other half to the circuit in question. The finding of the directors of the parent 
 society is not subject to appeal, in spite of the decision of the circuit directors or the 
 egg collector. In case of a suit to collect the fine the expenses are paid by the party 
 on whom the fine was imposed, the ordinance of August 6, 1824, notwithstanding. 
 
 SEC. 6. The eggs must be carefully gathered once a day and during the hot sea- 
 son at least twice a day. Eggs that have been casually found must not be delivered. 
 Only artificial eggs must be used as nest eggs, and the hens must be excluded from 
 the nests at night. 
 
 SEC. 7. Only clean eggs are to be delivered, and they must be protected against 
 sun, rain, and frost by producers as well as egg collectors. 
 
 SEC. 8. The members must deliver to the circuit eggs from their own poultry only; 
 the violation of this rule is punished in the first instance by a fine of 25 ore [nearly 
 7 cents] afterwards 50 ore a pound of the eggs that have been delivered contrary 
 to these rules. 
 
 SEC. 9. The membership list of the circuit shall have "the number, name, and 
 occupation of each member, and a member's number on the list shall be that with 
 which he stamps his eggs. The president of the circuit shall report changes in the 
 list to the main office of the cooperative society. By paying about 25 ore [nearly 7 
 cents] each member receives a rubber stamp, ink, and pad. The stamp has the 
 number of the circuit and of the member, and the member must use it to stamp 
 neatly and distinctly the large, thick end of every egg before delivering. 
 
 SEC. 10. The egg collector will accept only eggs that are clean and that have been 
 distinctly and properly stamped. 
 
 SEC. 11. The directors of a circuit may temporarily refuse to accept the eggs of a 
 member, and a member may be excluded by a majority vote of a general meeting 
 or by the directors of the cooperative society. 
 
 SEC. 12. The necessary money to pay cash for the eggs of the members is bor- 
 rowed; the members are liable for the debt individually and as an organization, and 
 the money is paid out to the egg collector, who gives satisfactory bonds. 
 
 SEC. 13. The eggs are paid for at prices fixed by the directors of the circuit. What 
 the eggs bring over, and above this price is paid to the members only after a sum 
 sufficient, in the judgment of the directors, to run the business has been put aside. 
 
 SEC. 14. A withdrawal is reported to the directors of the circuit, but the connec- 
 tion ceases only after the close of the financial year. Members that have withdrawn 
 or been excluded have no claim to the surplus, reserve fund, or to any property 
 belonging to the society, and must without reimbursement surrender their stamps to 
 the president of the circuit. 
 
 SEC. 15. The directors of the circuit consist of an uneven number of members, 
 namely , and are chosen by the general meeting (of the circuit). 
 
 SEC. 16. The duty of the directors of the circuit is to see to it that the business of 
 the circuit is furthered in the best manner possible by taking such measures as shall 
 insure the delivery of the eggs to the cooperative society in the condition required. 
 The directors of the circuit appoint and dismiss the egg collector and others employed 
 in the business of the circuit, determine their pay, and supervise their work. 
 
 SEC. 17. The general meeting elect annually two auditors to audit the accounts of 
 the year before the end of January of the following year. 
 
 SEC. 18. The regular general meeting is held in the beginning of February, so 
 early that propositions, if any, to the directors of the parent society, may be for- 
 warded to its president before the 20th of February. 
 
 SEC. 19. The circuit sends one deputy to the general meeting of the cooperative 
 society. 
 
 SEC. 20. When the circuit is eventually dissolved and all obligations paid, the 
 remaining assets, if any, shall be divided among the members in proportion to the 
 value of the eggs delivered during the last financial year. 
 
 Adopted at a general meeting at , 19 . 
 
 o
 
 [Continued from 2d page of cover.] 
 
 Dr. ,T. S. Kelly, cure Blomer & Michael Co., 
 
 Quincy, 111. 
 
 Dr. F. D. Ketchum, South St. Paul, Minn. 
 Dr. C. Loveberry, room 402 Custom House (new >, 
 
 Portland, Oreg. 
 
 Dr. H. D. Mayne, Malone. X. Y. 
 Dr. Louis Metsker, room 22 X. T. Armijo Building, 
 
 Albuquerque, N. Mex. 
 Dr. J. Miller, care John Morrell & Co., Ottumwa, 
 
 Iowa. 
 
 Dr. ('. L. Morin, St. Albans, Vt, 
 Dr. A. B. Morse, care The Agar Packing Co., Des 
 
 Moines. Iowa. 
 Dr. W. J. Murphy, care Springfield Provision Co., 
 
 Brightwood. Mass. 
 Dr. W. N. Neil, care John Cudahy Co., Wichita, 
 
 Kans. 
 Dr. H. D. Paxson, care Swift & Co., Fort Worth, 
 
 Tex. 
 
 Dr. F. M. Perry, Fort Fail-field, Me. 
 Dr.. G. W. Pope, Animal Quarantine Station, 
 
 Athenia, N. J. 
 Dr. H. T. Potter, Calais, Me. 
 Dr. J.O. Price, care Brittain & Co., Marshalltown, 
 
 Iowa. 
 
 Dr. R. A. Ramay, Hotel Metropole, Fargo, N. Dak. 
 Dr. A. G. G. Richardson, 707 Empire Building, 
 
 Knoxville, Tenn. 
 
 Dr. A. E. Rishel, care*Cudah,- Packing. Co., Los 
 Angeles, Cal. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Rose, 18 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 
 
 Dr. F. L. Russell, Orono, Me. 
 
 Dr. J. F. Ryder, 141 Milk st, Boston, Mass. 
 
 Dr. W. A. Savage, Aurora, 111. 
 
 Dr. E. P. Schaffter, care Cleveland Provision Co., 
 Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 Dr. C. A. Schaufler, 134 South Second st., Phila- 
 delphia, Pa. 
 
 Dr. Thos. W. Scott, care The Rath Packing Co., 
 Waterloo, Iowa. 
 
 Dr. T. A. Shipley, care T. M. Sinclair & Co. (Ltd.), 
 Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
 
 Dr. N. C. Sorensen, care Kingan & Co., Indian- 
 apolis, Ind. 
 
 Mr. Wm. H. Wade, Animal Quarantine Station, 
 Halethorp, Md. 
 
 Dr. H. N. Waller, 109 West Forty-second st, New 
 York, N. Y. 
 
 Dr. G. W. Ward, Newport, Vt. 
 
 Dr. B. P. Wende, Live Stock Exchange Building, 
 East Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 Dr. W. H. Wray, 34 Streatham Hill, London S. W., 
 England. 
 
 Dr. C. H. Zink, care Western Packing Co., Denver, 
 Colo. 
 
 DAIRY INSPECTORS. 
 
 W. D. Collyer, 210 South Water st., Chicago, 111. 
 
 James Hewes, 2110 North Charles St., Baltimore, 
 Md. 
 
 M. W. Lang, Department of Agriculture, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. 
 
 E. A. McDonald, 58 and 59 Downs Block, Seattle, 
 Wash. 
 
 Wm. E. Smith, 168 Chambers St., New York, N. Y. 
 
 B. F. Van Valkenburgh, 168 Chambers st., New 
 
 York, N. Y. 
 
 E. H. Webster (in the field, or), Manhattan, Kans. 
 Levi Wells (Bradford County), Spring Hill, Pa.- 
 G. M. Whitaker, P. O. box 1332, Boston, Mass. 
 W. D. McArthur, 114 California St., San Francisco, 
 
 Cal.