ii68 Rural School Leaflet 



XIV. GRADING AND PACKING EGGS FOR MARKET 



E. W. Benjamin 



In order to sell eggs most profitably, the poultry raiser should know 

 how to grade and pack them for market. 



As soon as the eggs are gathered, sort out all the soiled ones and clean 

 them. If they are only slightly stained, use a cloth moistened in water; 

 if they are badly soiled, use scouring soap or a like substance. Do not 

 soak eggs in water, for they will absorb undesirable flavors. Washed 

 eggs will not keep so well as clean, unwashed ones; therefore it is better 

 to keep the washed ones for home consimiption and use them while they 

 are fresh. 



Market eggs should be carefully sorted and packed. In order to grade 

 eggs for private trade, make two groups according to size. The first 

 group shoidd contain eggs each weighing two ounces or more, that is, 

 one and one-half pound or more a dozen. The second group should 

 contain eggs weighing less than two ounces each. The grading will be 

 easier if a few eggs of two ounces each are weighed and used as samples. 

 Practice will enable one to grade eggs without weighing them. From each 

 group of eggs take out all except those having approximately the same 

 color, either uniform white or uniform bro^vn, and the same shape. After 

 all the eggs of small size, poor color, and abnormal shape have been taken 

 out, there will be two grades of first-class market eggs for which you 

 should be able to obtain higher prices than the ordinary market will pay. 

 Egg dealers in New York City have been known to pay ten cents more a 

 dozen for the large eggs than for the medium-sized eggs of the same color. 

 They have also paid from five to eighteen cents more a dozen for the 

 uniformly white eggs than for those of mixed color of the same size. The 

 eggs that go into the cull grade may often be sold for nearly market 

 price. 



The best grade of eggs produced for the wholesale trade should be 

 packed in an ordinary case containing thirty dozen if express shipments 

 are to be made. A producer may be able to supply some private cus- 

 tomers in the city. This class of trade is not difficult to obtain if the 

 eggs are of superior quality. Establish a standard for each grade of eggs 

 sold and see that the eggs always conform to this standard, so that cus- 

 tomers will learn to expect and appreciate thoroughly high-grade products. 

 Consumers are usually glad to pay a premiiun for eggs of reliable quality. 

 With a little care and interest on the producer's part he can establish a 

 business that will afford some of the best profits and pleasures of farm 

 Hfe. 



Remember the following suggestions: (i) breed and select your fowls 

 so that they will lay eggs that are uniform in size, shape, and color, and 



