EGGS IN COLD STORAGE. 65 



calcium. This chemical is a well known absorber 

 of moisture, what is technically known as a deliques- 

 cent substance. If moisture of any account passes 

 the cooler it is surely stopped in the dryer, which 

 " makes assurance doubly sure," so far as delivering 

 a pure, dry air is concerned. The "microbes, bac- 

 teria, moisture, etc." (which influenced the gentle- 

 man mentioned previously not to ventilate), are ef- 

 fectually disposed of by this method. It would be a 

 hardy germ, indeed, that would not succumb to such 

 vigorous treatment. 



The volume of air necessary for ventilating- a 

 given size of egg room can only be estimated, and 

 probably no two storage men will agree as to what is 

 a correct quantity. Some say that the introduction 

 of a volume of air equal to that of the room to be 

 ventilated should take place each day; others twice 

 each day; some even take so radical a view of it as to 

 say the oftener the better if the air is properly dried 

 and cooled. This is of course true enough, but the 

 foul gases which we can be rid of by ventilation ac- 

 cumulate but slowly in an egg room, and it is probable 

 that the introduction of a volume of fresh air, properly 

 treated, equaling that of the egg room, twice each 

 week will be ample for the purpose of keeping the 

 room in good condition, and in most cases once each 

 week may do nearly as well. There is much to be 

 developed yet in the direction of ventilation of refrig- 

 erator rooms, more particularly in the way of some 

 method of knowing when a room requires ventilating. 

 Perhaps Prof. Siebel or some equally bright chemist 

 may be able to assist us on this point by informing us 

 what the gases are which we must dispose of, and 

 indicate some simple method of determining their 

 presence, and in what proportion. 



All that has been said about ventilation so far 

 applies only to the ventilation of cold storage rooms 

 when the air without is warmer than the air of the 



