206 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
according to the distance they have had to travel. Consequently, 
the older an English egg is when marketed the more it has to 
compete with foreign eggs, and the lower its price will be. The 
object of a co-operative egg society should be to supply eggs superior 
in quality and freshness to any obtainable from abroad, and thus to 
secure the best of the trade for its members. 
During the spring months of the year, when birds are broody, 
eggs should be taken from the nests twice a day, as if they remain 
under the hen for several hours they are spoiled. Every care 
should be taken to keep the shells clean by putting new straw in 
the nests, as washed eggs lose much in appearance and do not keep 
so well. Before eggs are sent in to the depot they should be 
marked with the breeder’s number in the local society, by means of 
a rubber stamp provided for the purpose, so that the origin can be 
traced. 
When received at the depot every egg should be tested for 
freshness by means of a special lamp. The trade requirements 
for new-laid eggs are that they shall be (1) clean in the shell and 
of good shape; (2) full—z.e. have a small air space ; (3) bright— 
z.e. perfectly clear, without any spots or shadows ; and (4) from 
2 to 24 oz. in weight. Eggs which conform to these requirements 
should be selected, and all bad, stale or dirty eggs returned to the 
senders, while others which are not of first quality should be sold 
as cookers. The eggs should then be packed in special boxes and 
forwarded to their destination. 
PAYMENTS FoR EGcs 
In paying producers, the plan recommended is to buy the eggs 
at the ordinary local market price, the profits remaining after 
payment of expenses being divided at stated periods among 
members and shareholders in accordance with the number of eggs 
sent in to the depot. In some cases it has been found necessary 
to make dividends depend upon the relative number of eggs pro- 
duced in the winter, in order to prevent members selling eggs else- 
where when scarce and to the depot when plentiful. It 7s absolutely 
