198 PROFITABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION 



age is correct, its abuse is responsible for much un- 

 fair discrimination against cold-storage eggs. Let 

 it be granted that the cold-storage people are not 

 in business for fun or to see how long eggs can be 

 kept and still pass as eggs. They wish to make a 

 profit. If eggs are not good when removed from 

 storage these people must lose money because they 

 can't make sales. Experience has taught them that 

 eggs can be kept in practically the same condition 

 as when received, but storage does not improve the 

 quality of eggs improperly handled before reaching 

 the warehouse. 



Much of the trouble arises in the bad methods 

 of handling before the eggs reach the warehouse. 

 This largely occurs where eggs are held for a raise 

 of prices. Wherever this is done, under ordinary 

 cellar storage conditions, whether on the farm or 

 in the country store, there is always deterioration. 

 If this common storage and rehandling were 

 eliminated, and were eggs put in cold storage with 

 less delay after being laid, farmers would be able 

 to command higher prices, because losses would 

 be less serious, and the disfavor in which storage 

 eggs are held would be largely reduced. It is to 

 his interest, therefore, that the farmer devise plans 

 for getting eggs to the nearest cold-storage ware- 

 house, unless it is possible to develop a satisfactory 

 local market for fresh eggs. 



In cold-storage warehouses poultry is kept con- 

 tinuously at a temperature considerably below zero, 

 even as low as 10 below. At such a temperature 

 no changes occur, and the birds remain sweet and 

 wholesome indefinitely. The meat of such fowls, 

 if properly handled after removal from cold stor- 



