434 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



them, it is found that the consumer does not think so, and we have 

 to grade them accordingly. For example, in the month of July, I 

 bought 1,600 cases of eggs, costing about 14 cents per dozen here. 

 Of these, 70 per cent were fresh, 20 per cent were stale, small and 

 dirty, and sold for eleven cents per dozen, and 10 per cent were 

 rotten and were an absolute loss. The August loss ran about 5 

 per cent higher, the September loss about the same; the October 

 loss has been about one-half less on bad eggs, but the per cent of 

 small and dirty has been about the same. November receipts are 

 generally fresh stock, but in December we usually receive a lot of 

 held, stale stock that forces down the market price from two to 

 five cents per dozen, resulting in financial loss to all parties con- 

 cerned. 



"If one firm shows losses as above stated, just think what 

 the entire loss in the State and the United States amounts to. It 

 is simply enormous, and that is not all ; when eggs are fresh, peo- 

 ple will eat them and will pay good prices to get them, but, just 

 as soon as they get a few that are not strictly fresh, they turn to 

 something else and eschew eggs. I do not believe that eggs would 

 ever sell for less than fifteen cents per dozen in the country if all 

 came to the market fresh and firm. We urge the farmers to 

 observe the following rules, and give us good, fresh, clean stock, 

 any they will find that it will fully repay the extra care : 

 "1. See that the hens have clean, dry nests to lay in. 



2. Gather the eggs daily and keep in a cool, dry place — not 

 in the kitchen or damp cellar. 



3. Market them at least once per week, oftener if possible. 



4. Do not wash eggs; they soon spoil. 



5. Do not market eggs that have proved not fertile in the in- 

 cubator; it is criminal. 



6. Use the small and dirty eggs at home; they are just as 

 good if you know they are fresh, but they lessen the value of the 

 others when they reach the market. 



7. Do not pack in salt or damp sawdust; an egg will absorb 

 any odor that butter will." 



THE POULTRY SHOW. 



With State, district and county poultry shows, no Missouri 



fancier should fail to exhibit his birds, for it is a part a big 



part — of his business. The educational and advertising features 

 are most important. Those who attend the shows become inter- 

 ested in better birds and often buy, so the exhibitor has first 



