Marketing Eggs. 91 



to form the ends of the new crates of various sizes. Three-eighths-inch 

 Georgia pine ceihng is used for sides and top, which is nailed with two- 

 inch finishing nails. The bottoms are made from the best of the material 

 taken from the sides of the old egg crates. Narrow cleats are placed on 

 the sides for handles, and upon the top of the cover to make it solid. Two 

 three-inch strap hinges and a hasp are placed on the cover. The whole 

 box is then sandpapered if necessary, covered with hard oil finish, which 

 makes a much neater looking package, easier to keep clean than one which 

 is painted. The name of the farm or of the proprietor, with the home 

 address and the products shipped, should then be stencilled on the top of 

 the package, also upon the sides where room will permit. The Cornell 

 stencil is in two parts. With the first part a large white egg, 10 inches 

 long, is painted upon the box. When this is dry another stencil is used 

 to print the words, "Cornell University, College of Agriculture, Poultry 

 Products, Ithaca, N. Y. Quality Guaranteed." A neat stencil on any 

 package is a splendid advertisement, and makes the chances of loss of 

 crates in transit very much less. As a finishing touch we purchase little 

 brass padlocks, with duplicate keys. They cost 12^ cents each and they are 

 money makers, not so much because they prevent stealing eggs, but because 

 the wealthy customer is willing to pay a cent or more a dozen just for the 

 sake of having his neighbor see that he gets eggs direct from the farm V 

 express each week with a padlock on the box. Our experience in working 

 up a large private family trade in and about New York City is that the 

 best advertiser is a pleased customer. To illustrate, we have one family 

 that has purchased eggs from us for many years. They referred a friend 

 to us, who became a regular customer, who in turn wanted us to send 

 eggs to another friend. Another string of customers started by a wealthy 

 man visiting the farm and finding us packing eggs for the private family 

 trade. He asked why he could not have eggs sent to him also. He is one 

 of our best customers at the present time, and through his friendship four 

 others have been secured. Farmers who take Summer boarders, or those 

 who sell produce to Summer hotels, have excellent opportunities for finding 

 city customers for eggs. The private family trade, however, is not without 

 its disadvantages. One of these is that there are a multitude of details 

 in looking after a large number of comparatively small shipments ranging 

 from six to 15 dozen. This makes a good deal of bookkeeping. Families 

 are apt to leave the city at certain times during the year which necessarily 

 interrupts the general output of eggs. However, some of our customers 

 continue to have eggs shipped to their Summer resort, where they are 

 willing to pay double express charges. The most serious difficulties 

 have been the breakage by express companies. Occasionally they make 

 good the loss, after much correspondence and delay. 



