HOW EGGS ARE MARKETED 
since 1900. As for the future we cannot prophesy save to say 
that there is nothing in sight to lead us to believe that we 
will not go still higher in egg prices. 
A third variation in the price of eggs is the one caused by 
the seasonal relation of production and consumption. This 
change is from year to year fairly constant. Its normal may 
be seen in the scientifically smoothed curve in plate IV. This 
curve is based upon the New York prices for the last eighteen 
years. . 
In addition to these broader influences there are disturbing 
tendencies that cause the market to fluctuate back and forth 
across the line where the more general influences would place 
it. 
Of those general factors, weather is the most important. 
Storms, rain and cold in the egg producing region decrease the 
lay, lower supplies and raise the price. This is due both to 
the fact that laying is cut down and that the country roads 
become impassable and the farmers do not bring the eggs to 
town. As long as there are storage eggs in the warehouses 
weather conditions are not so effective, but when these are 
gone, which is usually about the first of the year, the egg 
market becomes highly sensitive to all weather changes. 
Suppose late in February storms and snows force up the price 
of eggs. This is followed by a warm spell which starts the 
March lay. The roads, meanwhile, are in a quagmire from 
melting snows. When they do dry up eggs come to town by 
the wagon loads. A drop of ten cents or more may occur on 
such occasions within a day or two’s time. This is known as 
the spring drop and for one to get caught with eggs on hand 
Means heavy losses. 
When once eggs have suffered this drop to the spring level 
or the storage price for the season, the prices for April, May 
and June will remain fairly steady. About the last week 
in June the summer climb begins. This goes on very steadily 
with local variation of about the same as those of the spring 
months. The storage eggs begin to come out in August and at 
first sell about the same as fresh. As the season advances the 
fresh product continues to rise in price. The storage egg 
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