Il88 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS I TRAD!-: 



tile liquids, such as toluol and chloroform, impart their smell to eggs and 

 cannot be entirely got rid of. Eggs preserved by the aid of these substances 

 are no longer fit for consumption. 



A stud}' was made of the action of the following substances : toluol, 

 chloroform, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, mustard oil, benzoate of soda, 

 boric acid, and salicylic acid. As time did not allow of keeping the eggs for 

 a very long period, the conditions of lengthy transport were imitated by 

 carrying out the experiments at a temperature of 37 to 38° C, at which 

 the eggs were kept for 10 to 14 da^'s. The eggs used were not entirely fresh, 

 being market eggs. 



The results of the experiments may be summarised as follows : 



Toluol The smell and taste imparted to the eggs cannot be removed. 



Chloroform Do. 



Hydrochloric acid . . When used in the proportion of 0.5 '^^ the eggs are liable to rot 



and mould. 

 Acetic acid When used in the proportion of 0.65 °o rotting is prevented but the 



eggs acquire a sour taste and coagulate. 

 Benzoate of soda . . . When used to the amouut of 1.75 % the eggs decompose and rot 



within 8 or 9 days. 

 Salicylic acid .... Used in the proportion of 1-2 %. no rotting but deleterious change 



in colour and smeil. 



Mustard Oil Strong smell of mercaptan ; eggs no longer fit for consumption. 



Boric acid Used in a quantity of 1-2 %, no rotting after keeping for 12 days. 



Conclusions. — For the preservation of broken eggs, only acetic acid, 

 salicylic acid and boric acid give a sufficiently good result, but they must 

 be used in fairl}- strong doses. The eggs nevertheless retain some flavour 

 due to the preserving agent, and undergo chemical changes. The best 

 preserving agent is undoubtedly boracic acid, the use of which in Germany 

 however meets with great difficulties on the part of the authorities ; it is 

 thought that the preservation of broken eggs should only be resorted to 

 in exceptional cases, when an}' other means of keeping them is impossible. 

 It is nevertheless recommended that these experiments should be repeated. 



919 - Sale of Cattle through the Agency of Co-operative Shipping Associations in the 



United States. — Doty S. W. and hall L. D., in United States Department of Agriculture, 

 l-'armers' Bulletin, No. 718, pp. 1-16. Washington, April 10, 191 6. 



In those parts of the United States where cattle breeding is not one of 

 the most productive branches of farming, and especially wherever the dairy 

 industry predominates, the majority of farmers have only a small number 

 of animals available for sale at a given moment. This number is generally 

 insufficient to load complete trucks, but exceeds the needs of the local 

 markets and must be disposed of at more distant markets. 



This state of things, which cattle dealers were not .slow to turn to ac- 

 count, has led to the creation among farmers of co-operative cattle-forward- 

 ing societies. Examples were not wanting, even in the past, of farmers 

 coming to an agreement to effect this class of forwarding, but it is not until 

 the last 7 years that these associations arose and developed (first starting 

 in 1908 at Ivichtfield, Minnesota). 



