PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



the consumers. The season of large production covers only a 

 few months of spring and early summer. 



Were it not for the cold storage plants there would be a 

 glut on the market in the season of high production, and prices 

 would be disastrously low. Storage eggs may have a tendency 

 to lower the prices of fresh eggs in winter, but the fresh egg 

 is always in demand and remunerative prices are maintained in 

 spite of the release of cold storage stocks. 



The Chicago Mercantile Exchange gives the following rules 

 for grading market eggs : 



1. Eggs shall be classed as fresh gathered, storage packed, 

 and refrigerator. 



2. Eggs shall be graded as extras, firsts, ordinary firsts, 

 and dirties. 



3. The term "loss" comprises all eggs that are rotten, 

 broken (leaking), spots, broken yolked, frozen (split), hatched 

 (blood veined), and sour. Very small, very dirty, cracked 

 (not leaking), badly heated, badly shrunken, salted, and chilled 

 eggs shall be counted one-third loss in all grades excepting 

 "Seconds," "Dirties," and "Checks." 



This rule applies to the grading of eggs when they are to 

 be sold in the shell, and does not mean that such eggs desig- 

 nated as "loss" (except rotten eggs) shall not be used for can- 

 ning or drying purposes when same are of a sweet or whole- 

 some nature. 



4. Fresh gathered extras shall be free from small and dirty 

 eggs, and shall contain fresh, reasonably full, strong in body, 



• sweet eggs as follows : 



February 15 to May 15 90% 



May IS to Oct. 31 80% 



Oct. 31 to Dec. 31 70% 



December 31 to February 15 80% 



The balance may be defective in strength or fullness, but 

 must be sweet. There may be a total average loss : 



September 1st to June 1st ^ dozen per case 



June 1st to September 1st 1 dozen per case 



5. Fresh gathered firsts shall be reasonably clean, of good 

 average size, and shall contain fresh, reasonably full, strong 

 in body, sweet eggs as follows : 



February 15 to May 15 70% 



Balance of the year 45% 



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