344 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



in buying from, the storekeeper. They buy them by the 

 case-count. It is called the case-count system. During the 

 past few years an active campaign has begun in several 

 states to do away with the case-count system and substitute 

 a system of buying on the basis of quality. This means 

 that the dealer in purchasing a case of eggs candles them, 

 computes the loss due to shrinkage, blood-rings, etc., and 

 pays accordingly. This is known as the "loss-off" method 

 of buying, which is really paying according to quality. If 

 this system comes fully into vogue it will result in saving 

 millions of dollars a year to the producers, for the loss 

 finally is charged up against the producer. It will also 

 fasten the attention of the producer on the importance of 

 breeding for size of egg, feeding for quality in the egg, and 

 on methods of handling the egg that will best preserve its 

 quality. 



Grades of Eggs. Under the old system, an "egg was 

 an egg," and at the present day, in the majority of primary 

 markets, one egg is as good as another. Now before eggs 

 reach the consumers in large cities they have to stand an 

 examination, and the expert finds that there are various 

 kinds of eggs, and a name or grade is given to each kind. 

 The different grades of eggs recognized by expert candlers 

 in the large markets are described in Bulletin 160, Bureau 

 of Animal Industry, as follows : 



Fresh Egg. An egg to be accepted as a first, or fresh 

 egg, must be newly laid, clean, of normal size, showing a 

 very small air cell, and must have a strong, smooth shell 

 of even color and free from cracks. 



Checks. This term applies to eggs which are cracked 

 but not leaking. 



Leakers. As indicated by the name, this term applies 

 to eggs which have lost a part of their contents. 



Seconds. The term "seconds" applies to eggs which 



