POULTRY KEEPING 625 



weather in fall. 9. The using of cracked and dirty as well as small 

 eggs at home. Such eggs, if consumed when fresh, are perfectly 

 wholesome, but when marketed are discriminated against and are 

 likely to become an entire loss. 10. The marketing of all eggs at 

 least once a week, and oftener when convenience allows. 11. Keep- 

 ing eggs as cool and dry as possible while on the way to town and 

 while in country stores. 12. Keeping eggs away from musty cellars 

 or bad odors. 13. The use of strong, clean cases and good fillers. 

 14. The shipping of eggs to the final market at least once a week 

 and as much oftener as possible. 



General Summary. The loss in this country due to the actual 

 spoiling of eggs constitutes an enormous waste, which could in a 

 large measure be saved were eggs given reasonable care from the 

 time of laying until they reach the consumer. 



There are two main reasons why such care is not being given : 

 (1) Lack of realization of the importance of the egg crop and ignor- 

 ance of the correct method of caring for the product; (2) because 

 with our present system the individual farmer, and in the West the 

 individual storekeeper as well, are not financially rewarded for their 

 greater pains nor held accountable for gross carelessness, which may 

 amount to actual dishonesty. 



The ideal condition of the egg trade is to bring the intelligent 

 dealer who wants quality and will pay for it into close touch with 

 the producer. Every factor in the egg trade that prevents this is 

 detrimental to the progress of this important branch of intensive 

 agriculture. 



The greatest handicap to the egg trade is the general store, with 

 its custom of bartering merchandi.se for eggs. The storekeeper 

 reckons his profits on goods as more than his loss on eggs. He does 

 not try to enforce improvement upon his patrons by buying on a 

 quality basis, and by the advantage his peculiar position gives him 

 he keeps other egg buyers from doing so. The cure for this evil 

 consists in teaching the farmer and the merchant that the present 

 method of trading is upon a false basis, which is of no real advantage 

 to either, but is in reality a great disadvantage to both in that it 

 causes an actual loss of wealth which must be borne by the commu- 

 nity. When such an understanding is established the community is 

 ready for some plan of buying eggs that will pay the producer in 

 accordance with the actual worth of the product. This done, and a 

 market found where the improved goods will bo recognized and paid 

 for, the future of the egg and poultry industry in that community 

 is simply a matter of patience and perseverance. (Dep. Agr. Bu. 

 An. Ind. Cir. 140.) 



Selection and Care of the Eggs to be Preserved. Keep the 

 whole flock as near a perfect state of health as possible. Give enough 

 shell-forming food to the hens so that the shells will be strong and 

 uniform in thickness. Make proper nesting places and keep them 

 clean, so that the egg? may not be infected while in the nests. Gather 

 the eggs each day. Keep the gathered eggs in a dry cool room or 

 cellar where the sun's rays do not fall directly upon them. Use only 



