Oct., 1937] 



Eggs Under the Hammer 



11 



Table 4. — Approximate number of cases of eggs shipped from various New Hampshire 

 counties to the N. H. Egg Auction in 1934-35 and 1935-36. 



Coimtv 



No. cases shipped 



1934-'35 



1935-'36 



Countv 



No. cases shipped 



1934-'35 



1935-'36 



Belknap 

 Carroll . 

 Cheshire 

 Coos . . . 

 Grafton . 

 Vermont 



687 

 601 

 323 

 17 

 1,159 

 364 



564 



473 



1,879 



124 



1,141 



2,243 



Hillsborough 

 Merrimack . , 

 Rockingham 

 Sti'afford . . . 

 Sullivan . . . . 

 All sources*. 



3,877 



2,469 



11,516 



770 



607 



22,390 



7,872 

 3,228 



16,446 



907 



1,051 



35,928 



*Some fractional cases included in totals. 



PREPARATION OF EGGS FOR MARKET 

 Frequent Gathering Factor in Egg Cleanliness 



A survey of 100 auction members reveals that eggs were gathered 

 with the following frequency: 



Percentage of all producers 



Winter 



7o 

 34% 

 49% 



14% 



The remarkable record for clean eggs sent in by auction members is 

 in part accounted for by the frequent gathering of eggs. Other factors, 

 of course, are clean houses and nests, dry houses, confinement of hens, 

 care in handling and preparation for shipment. 



Methods Used in Cleaning Eggs 



Many producers use more than one method for cleaning eggs. Some 

 will use an abrasive or damp cloth but will wash the dirtiest ones. The 

 following figures suggest the approximate relative frequency with which 

 different methods are used: 



Wash with water 

 Use damp cloth 

 Use steel wool 



38% Scrape with knife 13% 



23% Vinegar and an abrasive 2% 



1% 



23% Sal soda 



Most Eggs Cooled in Collecting Containers 



A survey covering methods by 100 auction members indicated that 

 eggs were cooled in the following containers: 



Wooden buckets 

 Left in case 



7 per cent 

 4 per cent 



Wire baskets 23 per cent 



Metal buckets 51 per cent 

 Baskets (wood) 15 per. cent 



Later observations indicate a very considerable increase in the use of 

 wire baskets, which probably now constitute one-third to one-half of 

 (•(uitainers in which eggs are cooled. Some difficulty has been experi- 

 enced in their use, the most frequent criticism being that they result in 



