30 



While the huckster, as a rule, makes regular weekly shipments to the 

 larger markets, careless or deliberate holding of eggs is sometimes his 

 practice. In one instance which came under our notice, a large quantity 

 of eggs was left over by a huckster in an ordinary shed for a whole week 

 during the hottest weather experienced in the summer of 191 1. His 

 excuse for holding these eggs was that his waggon was overloaded, and 

 that if the eggs were shipped by express or freight, his profit would be 

 too small. However, it is worthy of note that at that particular time the 

 market price for eggs was on the upgrade. 



Fig. 8. — Candling and grading eggs. 



The Locai, Market. 



In many small country towns, particularly in districts surrounding 

 large consuming centres, there have been established market places which 

 are utilized by farmers on a set day of each week, for the exclusive pur- 

 pose of selling poultry, eggs and butter to visiting agents of large produce 

 firms. It is often stated in support of the local market that this system 

 is superior to all others, for the reason that there is keen competition 

 between the buyers, and because of this, high prices rule. But the most 

 superficial investigation will give one well founded suspicions that, as a 



