MARKETING THE PRODUCT 287 



recognized when held before the candle, and when broken 

 show a lumpy adherence to the inside of the shell. 



Packing. Eggs marketed in quantity for shipment should 

 be packed in a standard egg crate, which holds thirty dozen 

 eggs. Place a layer of clean excelsior or straw evenly dis- 

 tributed over the bottom of the crate before packing the 

 eggs. Use clean fillers and pasteboard flats and place the 

 eggs with the small end down. When the case is full, cover 

 the top layer with excelsior or straw evenly distributed over 

 the top. Nail the lid on securely at each end but not in 

 the center of the case, thus allowing room for a slight move- 

 ment of the eggs, and reducing the breakage. When market- 

 ing to private trade or direct to the consumer, pasteboard 

 cartons holding a dozen eggs each may be used, as shown in 

 Figure 277. 



MARKETING 



Precaution. Market the eggs frequently; twice a week, 

 if possible, during the summer. 



When selling eggs, insist that they be purchased on a 

 "loss-off" basis, that is, that they be candled and purchased 

 on the basis of quality rather than by the case irrespective 

 of quality. Thus the price received for eggs so purchased 

 will be based on the actual quality. It is obvious, therefore, 

 that infertile eggs of good quahty sold on a "loss-off" plan 

 will bring a greater return than those sold on a "case-count" 

 basis, irrespective of quality or condition. It necessarily 

 follows that the dealer who purchases eggs on a "case-count" 

 plan is compelled to pay less per dozen than when bought 

 on a quality basis in order to protect himself from possible 

 loss in reselling the eggs, a per cent of which may be unfit 

 for sale or consumption. 



By parcel post. Many farmers and poultrymen espe- 

 cially those in the more thickly settled sections of the country 

 have taken advantage of the parcel post to market their 



