STUDIES IN EGG-MARKETING 817 



eggs than for brown eggs. This induced a number of the farmers 

 to get rid of their old stock and invest in white leghorns. As 

 a result, the average grade of eggs furnished has been steadily 

 improved. 



A community in east central Minnesota deserves our attention 

 in this connection because of what it has accomplished through 

 co-operative effort. The farmers of Askov could not get cash 

 for their eggs and butter during the early years. These products 

 had to be brought to the stores and traded for groceries. The 

 farmers wanted to get away from the trade system because they 

 were in need of money to pay taxes, insurance, and other 

 obligations. This led them to organize a farmers' club nearly 

 five years ago. Later, in May, 1909, they began the egg-selling 

 business. One of the members of the club took charge and 

 stipulated two times a week when he would receive eggs at a 

 certain room in town. The eggs were to be paid for when the 

 returns came in. This man furnished his services gratuitously, 

 and there was no charge for the use of the room. It was soon 

 found inconvenient, however, to keep the farmers waiting before 

 paying for the eggs. The purpose of starting this method to 

 begin with was to afford cash payment. The egg branch of the 

 farmers' club therefore decided to borrow money and establish 

 a reserve fund in order to pay cash. An additional reason for 

 establishing the reserve fund was the fact that local merchants 

 had suddenly begun to pay cash for eggs purchased. From 

 the very beginning each egg was stamped with the number of 

 the farmer and the brand of the society. Eggs were placed 

 in cartons on which was printed a statement urging buyers to 

 report the eggs not found satisfactory. The rules regarding 

 the handling of eggs were similiar in many respects to those 

 already cited. In order to insure good quality one of the by- 

 laws stipulated a fine^ of fifty cents for each egg received that 

 was not good. 



The most serious problem in marketing eggs at . Askov has 

 been that of getting a market. Changes have been made from 

 time to time in the market selected for shipment. There has 

 been a shifting between sales to retailers and sales to jobbing 



