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OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



deal directly with consumers and retailers in the large cities often 

 give them less profit than would be obtained by selling through 

 the regular channels of the trade. The reason for this is that 

 most producers and a majority of country collectors do not pre- 

 pare and pack their poultry and eggs so that they will reach 

 those to whom they are consigned in good condition and bring 

 the prices which the shippers expected to realize. The losses 



FIG. 229. Candling eggs. 1 (Photograph from Bureau of Chemistry, United 

 States Department of Agriculture) 



due to improper handling of eggs and poultry by producers and 

 small collectors are enormous, undoubtedly amounting to more 

 than $100,000,000 a year in the United States. 



To place eggs and poultry in the hands of consumers in 

 strictly first-class condition, they must be handled with great care 

 at every stage of preparation and distribution. Eggs must be 

 gathered while perfectly fresh, kept in a cool place where no bad 

 odors will reach them, and protected from heat and frost, as well 



!The man is posing for the photograph. When he works, the room must be dark 

 except for the covered light used in candling. 



