EGG QUALITY AND PRICE 21 



showing an air space 14 inch above the average, while private stores show a de- 

 crease in price of 3/5 of a cent for a similar increase in air space. 



Condition of Yolk 



Condition of yolk is relatively unimportant except during the spring of the 

 year at which time it has more effect than air space in determination of price. 

 It is particularly important in connection with eastern eggs and in private stores. 

 During this period an increase of one point in the score on account of poor yolks 

 is safficient to reduce the price per dozen almost 3^ of a cent. In private stores 

 the effect is to reduce prices % of a cent, while with eastern eggs the average is 

 more than 4/5 of a cent reduction in price for each additional egg in a dozen with 

 a poor yolk. 



Condition of White 



Condition of white also appears to be relatively unimportant in price deter- 

 mination at any of the three seasons studied. August is the only month in which 

 any significant relationship appears. The average for all eggs in this month 

 shows a net loss of .3 cents per dozen for each additional point on the score of the 

 condition of white. This factor is more important for chain stores than for 

 private stores and for western eggs than for eastern eggs, although the exact 

 measure of this difference is indeterminate. 



The apparent unimportance of the condition of white and yolk is accounted 

 for in part by the interrelationship between size of air space and the other two 

 internal factors. This is shown by the relatively high correlation between these 

 factors at all seasons, but particular^ in November and August. 



Effect of Weight 



Weight is one of the most important factors affecting price at all seasons of 

 the year, but is most important both relatively and actually in August. In this 

 month each additional ounce per dozen causes an increase of 4.5 cents per dozen 

 in price. In April each additional ounce of weight produces an increase of 2.4 

 cents per dozen, while in November the increase is 3.2 cents per dozen. In April 

 weight is relatively more important in connection with eastern eggs and eggs 

 sold in private stores, and in November the same holds true. In August the effect 

 of weight is slightly greater in private stores than in chain stores and for western 

 eggs than for eastern eggs. The differences are not large enough to be significant 

 in either case. 



The effect of the several factors on the price of all eggs may be summarized 

 as follows: 



CENTS PER DOZEN 



Each J^ air space per egg 



Each yolk worse than average 



Each white wor.se than average 



Each additional ounce per dozen less than average 

 The combined effect of these factors.... 



Assume that a farmer or a storekeeper stores eggs under improper conditions; 

 that perhaps the purpose of storing is to secure a higher market pri(!e. What 

 are the chances of a net gain in receipts for the eggs? The eggs when gathered 

 weighed 24 ounces per dozen. During the whole period they lose, on an average, 



