1922.] Egg and Poultry Co-operative Society. 



178 



the Society's collecting areas and purchased good, had or in- 

 different eggs at a slightly higher price in order to secure them, 

 thus affecting the good work the Society had done in levelling 

 up the quality of eggs. At the commencement of operations 

 each member was provided with a small rubber stamp, 

 with which to number the eggs, but it was found thai 

 clients confused them with foreign eggs, and refused them, 

 thus defeating their own object of getting best English eggs. 



The Committee worked out several examples with the idea 

 of purchasing eggs by weight, but taking the 2-oz. standard 

 it was found that, as a whole, the cost would be about 5 per 

 cent, more than if bought in the ordinary local way, and there 

 were still the " smalls " to cope with. 



Each year the Society has shown a creditable trade profit, 

 and during the last ten years has distributed in bonuses no 

 less a sum than £19,973 4s. 3d. Members therefore have con- 

 fidence in the Society, and in many instances the bonus and 

 interest are returned for investment in further shares. 



Since 1910 the Society has persevered in the preservation of 

 eggs, and specially constructed tanks similar to those in Den- 

 mark have been built at the Ipswich depot. Ench measures 

 8 ft. x 7 ft. x 7 ft. 6 in., and each will accommodate 120,000 

 eggs. Altogether wilh smaller tanks at Framlingham. Strad- 

 broke and Wisbech, about two million eggs can be preserved. 



In order to prevent the selling of preserved eggs as new 

 laid, a solution has been prepared which when applied to the 

 shell of a preserved egg will cause it to " blush," but the 

 solution will not affect a new laid egg. In the winter of each 

 year, all agents are supplied with this solution, and lime or 

 water glass eggs can easily be detected. 



The Committee constantly urge members to improve their 

 stock, by the introduction of pure bred cockerels of laying 

 strains, either from some well-known breeder, or from members 

 who keep reliable breeds. They also advise members to give 

 the hens clean nests, to gather the eggs at least once daily, 

 to keep the eggs in a cool place, and to kill or sell all male birds 

 as early as possible save those required for stock purposes. 



During 1921 an increased trade in poultry, rnbbits, butter, 

 etc., is shown, which is due to the provision of at least 300 

 fattening coops at Ipswich. A record handling for Xmas week 

 alone of some 3,000 turkeys, 1,293 fowls, 329 ducks and 101 

 geese is noteworthy. 



The Committee purchase live fowls (roasting chickens and 



