356 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



or less. The name of the producer or the name of his farm, 

 with address, may be stamped on the egg; also the words 

 "guaranteed fresh. " "Where eggs are shipped through an 

 association of producers the usual method is to give each 

 farmer a stamp on which is the name of the association, 

 with a number for each farmer. In this way if a consumer 

 finds fault with the eggs he purchases he will send his com- 

 plaint to the association, giving the number on the egg. 

 The association manager knows from this number where the 

 eggs came from, and the farmer is notified. 



The stamp on the egg is the best advertisement the pro- 

 ducer can have. If he can always furnish eggs of good 

 quality it is worth his while to put his trade-mark on them. 

 Every pound of butter or coffee, every 5-cent can of con- 

 densed milk, or loaf of bread, in fact about everything that 

 the housekeeper buys from the grocer bears the stamp of 

 the manufacturer. This advertises his goods and at the 

 same time protects him against fraudulent imitation. If 

 the poultryman wishes to build up and hold a trade for 

 good quality eggs he should advertise by putting his stamp 

 on them. 



"Where shipments are made direct by express or parcel 

 post to consumers this may not be necessary, but it might 

 happen that the customer would mix his eggs with some 

 others, and the blame, if any, if the eggs were bad, might 

 come back to him. 



The eggs are frequently packed by the poultryman in 

 cartons holding a dozen, and his name and address are 

 printed on the carton. The carton is sealed, and the eggs 

 are guaranteed if the seal is not broken. In such case the 

 eggs are not stamped. 



Summary. The loss in quality of eggs is due to : 



1. Improper feeding of the hens. 



2. Dirty nests and yards. 



