132 EGGS 



a few hours in such a temperature will, within an hour 

 or two, show blood spots and decomposition. 



Laying hens should be kept apart from the males 

 during the summer months, because infertile eggs will 

 keep good much longer at summer temperatures than 

 fertile eggs. There is no reason whatever for the males 

 to run with the hens at any other time than during the 

 breeding season. 



Quality of Eggs. Eggs that are old and undesirable may 

 be called stale, decomposed, or rotten, according to their 

 condition. Any deterioration in eggs brings them and 

 their vendor into disfavor. Consumers partial to eggs 

 that are perfectly fresh will turn in disgust from eggs 

 served in soiled shells. This is reason sufficient for the 

 greatest care in safeguarding egg production by means 

 of clean houses, clean nests, and clean and healthy hens. 

 Eggs should be gathered frequently, at least three or 

 four times daily, in both cold and warm weather. All 

 eggs the shells of which are the least bit soiled or off- 

 colored should be placed by themselves to be cleaned 

 and sorted or graded before they are sent to market. 



No other food product will gain in price from proper 

 grading so greatly as eggs. They can be graded in size, 

 shape, color, and cleanliness, with the result of always 

 enhancing the price. 



Freshness and internal conditions may be determined 

 by -candling. The process of candling is simple. A 

 lamp is placed inside a pasteboard box having a hole 

 in the top through which the heat of the lamp may 

 escape, and a hole two-thirds the diameter of the egg 

 in the side of the box just opposite or even with the 

 flame of the lamp. By placing the egg against the hole 

 in the side of the box the interior of the egg can be 

 plainly seen. If the contents are perfectly bright and 

 clear, the egg is fresh and fit for food. If spots, shades, 

 or lines are visible through the shell, 'the egg is more or 

 less deteriorated. Eggs must be tested in a dark room. 

 There are several kinds of egg testerg sold for very 

 moderate prices. Persons who sell eggs should have one 



