ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 875 



of transmitting high laying qualities. (3) The use as breeders of such males 

 only as are known to be the sons of high-producing dams, since only from such 

 males can we expect to get high-producing daughters. (4) The use of a 

 pedigree system, whereby it will be possible at least to tell what individual 

 male bird was the sire of any particular female. . . . (5) The making at first 

 of as many different matings as possible. ... (6) Continued, though not too 

 narrow, inbreeding (or line-breeding) of those lines in which the trap-nest 

 records show a preponderant number of daughters to be high producers." 



Studies in egg marketing, C. W. Thompson (Minnesota Sta. Bui. 132, pp. 45, 

 figs. 5). — In an analytical study of the development of egg-marketing methods 

 the author finds that the early method was that of barter with country mer- 

 chants, with the ultimate disposal of the local production to the primary 

 markets through commission men. With the improvement in facilities for 

 transportation and cold storage and a consequent lessening of the risk involved 

 in handling, jobbers have found inducements to enter the primary markets and 

 buy outright from local country dealers. The buying has been done either 

 through traveling agents or local dealers, or through the use of mailed quota- 

 tions. This method of jobbing has practically displaced the handling of eggs 

 on commission in all western primary markets except during periods of falling 

 prices. The shipments received have been candled and graded at the primary 

 market to be put on the local retail trade or placed in cold storage for a future 

 market. 



The increased volume of business with attending competition has forced 

 down the net margin on which jobbing is being done, while " the gross margin 

 remains unnecessarily large because of losses in candling, sorting, and repacking, 

 mainly due to the ' case-count ' policy of purchasing eggs in local towns. On 

 the other hand, the cost of storing has been reduced through economies from 

 increased volume of business, especially by a saving on losses and insurance." 



" In recent years certain localities have developed a system of marketing eggs 

 directly to city retailers without the aid of middlemen. The success of such 

 direct shipments has been mainly conditioned upon the ability to create and 

 maintain a special market for high-grade quality." 



Comparing the expenses incident to the direct and indirect methods of market- 

 ing eggs, it is pointed out that although the item of storage does not generally 

 enter into the cost of the direct method, yet during seasons of oversupply the 

 machinery which handles products shipped under the indirect method is also 

 called upon to take care of the surplus stocks from the direct method. Other 

 expenses incident to the indirect method are the carrying charges, including 

 interest, rentals, and insurance connected with cold storage, together with the 

 risks due to uncertainty in future price. With the development of the indirect 

 method has arisen the possibility of a monopoly in the supply of the product. 

 The author suggests that this evil may be reduced to a minimum by preventing 

 a narrowing of the distributing channel between the producer and the con- 

 sumer by encouraging the establishment of as many routes as possible accord- 

 ing to the direct method. 



With the perfection of the cold-storage facilities has come the evil of selling 

 storage eggs as fresh eggs. This, however, it is believed may be corrected 

 through government regulation and control. It is particularly noted that cold 

 storage lessens fluctnatioB in prices at different seasons and renders a high- 

 class product available to consumers during periods of scarcity. 



Preserving eggs, G. A. Olson (Washington Sta. Popular Bui. 54, pp. 4)- — 

 This bulletin treats of the water-glass method of preserving eggs, of the selec- 

 tion of eggs for preserving, and of the preparation of the preserving solution. 



