428 MARKETING THE PRODUCTS 
SELLING EGGS FOR HATCHING. 
Eggs are marketed for two purposes,—for human food and 
for hatching. When marketing them for breeding purposes four 
important points must be considered,—namely, securing the mar- 
ket, method of shipping, chance of fertility, and value of guarantee. 
Securing the Market.—If a large number are to be sold, 
the market is usually secured by systematic advertising. Where 
the breeder has an established reputation, which his birds have 
maintained for years by winning prizes at shows, and there 
are pleased customers in all parts of the country, there is little 
need of advertising. High-class eggs for breeding purposes call 
for special markets and enormous expense in marketing. The 
output must be disposed of by making a great many small ship- 
ments to many customers. In marketing eggs for food all the 
output, if desired, can be shipped regularly and in considerable 
quantity to the same customer. To counterbalance the labor 
and heavy expense of marketing eggs for breeding purposes, an 
exceedingly high price is usually received for such eggs. 
Method of Shipping.—In shipping eggs for hatching, chill- 
ing or overheating must be avoided, also breaking or unnecessary 
jarring. The usual method is to pack them in ordinary market 
baskets, pasteboard containers being first put in the basket; after 
the eggs are placed in these, the whole layer is filled with bran 
or dry sawdust to prevent jarring or cracking. Eggs thus packed 
are much more likely to reach their destination safely than when 
they are shipped in heavy and tight wooden boxes, in which 
case the handler is ignorant of the contents and takes no extra 
precautions. 
Express companies charge an extra rate for handling eggs for 
hatching, hence are expect<d to give them unusual care. The 
package, of whatever type, should be plainly marked, stating 
the nature of the contents and the danger of breakage. During 
extremely cold weather when there is danger of chilling, it is advis- 
able to wrap each egg in paper before putting it in the container. 
Chance of Fertility—Since the hatching egg has no value 
unless fertile, the greatest care should be exercised during the 
selling season not only to produce fertile eggs, but to handle 
them so that the germ will be kept alive and will develop into a 
vigorous chick. The percentage of fertility varics considerably 
in different scasons, being highest during the natural hatching 
