354 



POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



bulb inside, is frequently used. An expert candler can 

 test 1,000 dozen eggs in a day. 



Consumers Should Candle Their Eggs. If the con- 

 sumer wishes to assure himself, before eating the eggs, that 



they are all right, he 

 may very readily do so 

 by using a small shoe 

 box or breakfast cereal 

 box with the electric 

 light. It should not con- 

 sume more than a 

 minute to candle a dozen 

 or two dozen eggs in this 

 way. He may detect the 

 bad egg or determine 

 the quality of the egg 

 without first breaking it 

 on to his breakfast toast. 

 He can also check up on 

 the grocer or farmer as 

 to the age of the egg, 

 and assure himself that he has not purchased a stale egg un- 

 der the name of new-laid. If the eggs are not up to the 

 guarantee he can politely send them back to the grocer ; or 

 if the case is an aggravated or flagrant one, turn the eggs 

 over to the pure food officers for whatever action they may 

 take in the matter. Usually, however, if the consumer deals 

 with a reliable farmer he will very seldom have occasion 

 to complain of the eggs not being as represented. Nor will 

 there often be occasion for complaint against a reliable 

 grocer who candles and guarantees his eggs. 



The Fresh Egg. The test of a fresh egg is its trans- 

 parency and the smallness of its air space. There is no air 

 space in an egg just as it is deposited warm and moist in 



Instead of a kerosene lamp, an electric light 

 bulb may be hung inside the box. 



