HOW TO BETTER CONDITIONS. 



This movement throughout the whole Dominion to better the egg-market con- 

 ditions is warmly endorsed liy the British Columbia, poultrymen. All are in favour 

 of having a " Marks Act " established to prevent storage and held eggs being sold 

 as fresh and new-laid. 



To prove that such things exist, the writer purchased a dozen eggs called 

 " Special '* " New-laid Eggs 30 cents a dozen to-day." At the same time the Inter- 

 national Egg-laying Contest, eggs were bringing 55 cents a dozen on the retail 

 market. The bought eggs were candled, and the results follow : 



In each egg, 20 per cent, evaporation ; contents not firm, and dark ring around 

 air-cell. 



Two eggs watery (often termed buttermilk eggs). Poor boiling eggs. 



Results. As a sample of storage eggs these were quite good, but surely do not 

 deserve the name of new-laid. They were well-selected storage eggs. 



The average poultryman tries hard to put a good article on the market, yet if 

 this article will not be recognized as such no law enactments requires such acknowl- 

 edgment at the present time how can the poultryman be encouraged to produce 

 .the best? 



The farmers could better themselves greatly by paying more attention to their 

 flock, keeping them in a more sanitary condition, and not allowing them to run and 

 lay everywhere on the farm. All male birds should be removed from the flock 

 after the breeding season is over. Fertile eggs should never be marketed as infertile 

 eggs. 



The wholesalers and retailers both could sell more eggs if they were not some- 

 what reluctant to state the exact kind of article they are selling. It is only business 

 to these people, but the extra cents mean dollars to the producers. AVhen a dozen 

 eggs called " new-laid." bearing a " special " notice at the top of the card, can be 

 sold for 30 cents a dozen on the retail market, the consumer should know if the 

 best eggs at that time are bringing ">."> cents per dozen that these eggs were inferior 

 quality. Yet the " special " draws the eye to the article. If one were to look 

 carefully, as did the writer, at these eggs, no bloom or fresh appearance could be 

 found on the shell as one finds on the shell of a new-laid egg unless it has been 

 washed off. 



SELLING WHOLESALE. 



Although there are many cases of storage eggs coming on our markets weekly, 

 there are very few produced in the Province that are purchased with the intention 

 of being stored, to the writer's knowledge, for any length of time. 



If eggs are purchased with this intention, the buyer candles them very closely 

 and eliminates all eggs which should not le placed in storage. This process of 

 elimination is known to the handler of eggs as purchasing on a " loss-off " basis or 

 " quality payment." Many eggs are so handled by large packing and storage 

 houses. A law enacted in the State of Kansas prevents the selling of eggs unfit 

 for food, and the dealers of eggs have agreed to buy on a loxx-off liaxi*. It is to 

 be hoped that aU persons handling eggs in British Columbia will see their way 

 clear to do the same thing. 



STANDARDS AND GRADING OF EGGS. 



At the present time (July, 1913) one alone cannot advocate the correct system 

 which should be adopted for grading eggs sold in British -Columbia. The poultry- 

 men themselves should lend their co-operation on this subject. 



The system of grading, if such it may be called, in vogue at this time is very 

 indefinite, and nothing guarantees any one producing, buying, or selling eggs as to 

 their real value. 



The display cards attached to eggs as placed before the public usually bear 

 the following inscriptions : 

 " New-laid Eggs." 

 " Special Eggs." 



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