14 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN No. 282 



Wester77 Es^gs 



The western eggs which were purchased at chain stores at the higher prices 

 were shghtly larger and of much better quahty than those purchased at lower 

 prices. Among private stores price was not a criterion of weight and quality 

 above the lowest price group. 



Group Averages 



Tables 7 and 8 afford an opportunity to observe average price differentials 

 between stores and egg grades relative to weight and quality. Average weight 

 for the various classes is a constant in April. There is an average margin of 3 

 cents among private stores over chains. The buyer would be compensated for 

 this charge by the extra service rendered by the private stores. 



The 3-cent margin carries through for the other months, with the exception 

 of eastern eggs in August when the margin is 6 cents and for western eggs in 

 November when the differential is reversed. Weights, however, are variable and 

 the higher differential is often for a lighter egg. 



Table 7. — Weight Averages and Average Price Paid 



In quality, however, the private-store eggs were superior except in the case 

 of western eggs in November. The superior quality of private-store eggs is 

 especially noticeable in eastern eggs. A study of these averages also indicates 

 very well the reason for the low price differential between western and eastern 

 eggs in April and the wide differential in August and November. There is very 

 little difference in quality between westerns and easterns in April, but there is 

 considerable difference in August and November. It may be noted in passing 

 that August cold storage eggs were superior in quality to westerns and were pur- 

 chased at a lower price. 



Table 8. — Qialitv .Averages and Average Price Paid 



