30 BULLETIN 664, U. B. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUMMARY. 



(1) All. the eggs observed during this investigation were re- 

 handled and repacked at the packing house'. They were put into 

 new standard cases, with new medium (3 pounds. 3 ounces) fillers and 

 Hats. The work was done by the employees of the house. As the 

 oases left the house they included approximately 5.39 per cent of 

 lightly cracked and dented eggs. Leaking eggs were rarely found. 



c_M All the shipments studied were in carlots. The average haul 

 was over 1,200 miles. When the shipments arrived at destination 

 each egg in the experimental cases was again individually examined, 

 and its condition compared with that previously noted at the pack- 

 ing house. It was found that when eggs were shipped in carlots, 

 packed in good, well-made, standard cases, with new medium or 

 heavier fillers and flats, with properly placed and suitable cushions 

 at top and bottom, with cases tightly stowed and efficiently braced in 

 the car, and the car handled in accordance with good railroad prac- 

 tice, especially when switching, the total damage referable to transit 

 was less than 2 per cent. 



(3) The size of the egg influences its safety in transit. Eggs 

 which were longer than the cells of the fillers showed 3.71 per cent 

 damaged. 



(4) The eggs with lightly cracked or dented shells, but with mem- 

 brane unbroken, showed a transit damage of 2.S8 per cent, as com- 

 pared with 1.77 per cent for eggs with sound shells. Applied to case 

 lots of broken eggs, the increased liability to damage is noteworthy. 

 Applied to the 19 lightly cracked eggs in the rehandled and repacked 

 case of commerce, the additional damage, referable to checks and 

 dents, is 1 egg per case. 



(5) Egg cases must be standard, symmetrically made with 5. or 

 preferably <'i. 3-penny cement-coated nails' at each corner of the sides 

 and bottom and at the center partition. While cottonwood, gum, and 

 tupelo cases vary hut little in strength, the cottonwood case has, on 

 the whole, the greatest number of advantages. 



(6) Medium fillers (3 pounds. 3 ounces) or heavier should he used. 

 It is absolutely necessary (hat the filler be perfectly new. Even a 

 short-haul shipment into the packing house should disqualify the 

 filler for further use. 



(7) Suitable cushions of excelsior, with a flat, should be placed on 

 the top and bottom of the case. The quarter filler is strong enough, 

 and it forms an even cushion. Corrugated board on the top of the 

 case affords practically the same protection as the excelsior cushion, 

 provided it takes up the slack. 



