CHEAP EGGS IN CHINA
(Consular Report.)
Vice-Consul General W. R. Dorsey
of Shanghai writes concerning domes
tic fowls in China:
‘ Perhaps there is no country in the
world where there are so many do
mestic fowls as in China, and yet
there are no poultry farms where
chickens are reared in quantities. Al
most every family in the towns and
village®, as well as in the country,
keeps a few hens. Many of the birds
are of medium size, laying small eggs
hut some breeds, such as the Huai
fowls and the Lanshans, are large, and
their eggs are almost if not quite' as
large as those of the Brahmas and
Plymouth Rocks. It is not uncommon
to find hens in the markets weighing
as much as eight pounds each.
“Chickens are hatched in crude in
cubators. When the chicks are a few
days old they are carried around in
baskets and sold for about twice the
market price of eggs. When large
enough to forage for themselves they
are allowed to roam over the fields to
pick up what feed they can find. At
night they are fed a little paddy or
cooked rice left from the meals.
“Hens’ eggs are produced and sold
in large quantities at certain seasons.
Many are exported annually to Japan.
