LECTURE LXXXIX. 



MARKETABLE POULTRY PRODUCTS EGGS AND MEAT. 



Spring and summer are the seasons most favorable and nat- 

 ural for the economic production of eggs. An egg is never 

 more palatable than when it is fresh. Brown eggs are pre- 

 ferred on many markets because customers have taken a 

 fancy to them for table use and for cooking. It should be our 

 business to put forth strong efforts to satisfy a demand for 

 those products which, with a little care on our part, can be 

 easily supplied from our farms. Large eggs are preferred to 

 small ones. The old country market demands that an egg 

 weigh at least two ounces to be up to the standard. Ten 

 dozen should weigh fifteen pounds. For every half pound 

 below the standard the price drops at the rate of about one 

 cent per dozen. 



Clean eggs are sought for rather than the unsightly dirty 

 eggs that are too often found in the egg basket and box during 

 the spring and summer months. When the eggs are gathered 

 it would not take very long to see to it that dirty eggs are 

 washed before being put away. 



Uniformity in any product adds to its attractiveness. If 

 eggs are sorted into lots of small, medium and large they 

 will on many markets bring a larger price than when lumped 

 off without any assortment having been made. 



When cleaning and assorting have been attended to the eggs 

 require to be set away in a cool, dry place 40 degrees to 50 

 degrees F. where they will remain without harm for a few 

 days until they are marketed. A small 12-dozen case with 

 paper apartments makes a very convenient means of storing 

 away the eggs and carrying them to market. The merchant 

 must see to it, too, that the eggs are kept cool and dry until 

 delivered to his customers. By looking after these details a 

 good substantial trade can be worked up that will result favor- 

 ably for the producer. Winter eggs are always in demand and 

 bring the very highest prices. It should be the ambition of 

 the farmer to try if possible to secure the means and methods 

 of producing this high priced commodity. 



