A cabbage garden

From the painting by Jane Sutherland, 1896

"We've got a big map of the world with a red dot for every country where we ship eggs," she says. "It's full of dots."At least a dozen officials of the Railway Ministry will deadhead east to be aboard the westbound special at all times, and will be available in a dedicated conference car for daily briefings to describe the railway and to answer questions about operations. During our 24-hour stopover at Irkutsk we'll have a give-and-take session with area railway officials. A representative of each of the railway disciplines will be present.But England Packing already had put up a performance bond to complete the contract.Forty years later, England Packing Co., which sells broiler hatching eggs throughout the world, relies extensively on automation.Much of the company's exporting is to northern Mexico and islands in the Caribbean, but the eggs also are shipped to Canada, Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Guyana and Europe. And a big percentage of the eggs are sold in the United States, Martin says.The trip will originate at Tokyo; transportation to the USSR will be by Far Eastern Shipping Co. steamship, departing from Yokohama--a two-day, two-night journey. All sleeping accommodations and all meals are included for the 14 days Tokyo to Helsinki.("When the line was being planned, most of the landowners refused to have the railway pass through their property. The builders took their problems to the Tsar, who called for a map, ruler, and pen. He drew a straight line to determine the route. At one point, his thumb which was holding down the ruler extended over the edge and onto the map and when he drew the line he followed the outline of his thumb. Hence the kink, which I'm told exists for no obvious geographical or civil engineering reason.")The 14-day all-expense trip from Tokyo to Helsinki will be priced at $6,500. Arrangements are planned to make best possible air fares available for those flying from the U.S. West Coast and other points to Tokyo, and returning westward from Helsinki.It is also one-third owner of Diamond Lakes Poultry, an egg production center in Glenwood, Martin says. England Packing now has 200,000-250,000 hens producing eggs, Martin says.

Picture her thus, bowed down, captured for ever a woman among cabbages. Around her the landscape grins.

Author: Carolyn Morwood