80 EGGS IN COLD STORAGE. 



oughly dry, no difference could be noted in the carry- 

 ing- qualities of the different kinds of whitewood, and 

 the preference has been for well seasoned basswood 

 cases. It may be that basswood is more likely to sour 

 and affect the eggs than poplar or cottonwood, but it 

 is always advisable to get stock for egg cases in the 

 fall and have them nailed up during- the winter, allow- 

 ing- two or three months for the cases to season before 

 the opening of the egg storing term. Some have dry 

 kilns for cases, but a naturally seasoned case is to be 

 preferred, as then it has a chance to deodorize as well 

 as dry out. In some localities other woods are used 

 for egg cases. Ash, maple, hemlock and spruce have 

 been used for storage cases, generally because they 

 are cheaper than whitewood in that locality. Any 

 strong scented wood like pine will not do because of 

 the flavor imparted to the eggs. 



The pasteboard frames and the horizontal divid- 

 ing or separating boards which form for each egg an 

 individual cell in the case are usually spoken of as 

 fillers. For years only one grade of these was made 

 those of ordinary strawboard. When moistened by 

 the evaporation from the eggs this material has a pe- 

 culiar rank odor, which was taken up to some extent 

 by the eggs if they were allowed to remain in the 

 fillers for several months. Much of the flavor result- 

 ing from a growth of fungus has been laid to the fill- 

 ers, and much of the flavor resulting from fillers has 

 been laid to a growth of fungus or must, but there is 

 no question but what strawboard fillers are not the 

 thing for cold storage use. Many kinds of fillers have 

 been tried, and many ideas suggested for the improve- 

 ment of cold storage eggs. A white wood pulp filler 

 made its appearance some years ago, but did not 

 come into general use. After being in storage a few 

 months, it absorbed moisture to such an extent as to 

 be very soft, and they were objectionable on this ac- 

 count. A good manila odorless is now on the market 



