191 i.J Sale of Eggs by Co-operative Means. 991 



eggs, but these are not altogether satisfactory, owing to the 

 differences in shape of eggs of the same weight. The plan 

 usually followed is to sort by hand and eye. If one egg is 

 known to be of standard weight, and it is placed in a tray, 

 those which are below or too much above can easily after a 

 little experience be picked out. There is no doubt that a basket 

 or box of eggs in which all are uniform, presents a better 

 appearance than where various sizes are mixed, even if the 

 average weight per dozen is the same. Grading is, therefore, 

 a question of selection. 



A Successful Method of Selling Eggs in the United 

 States. — An interesting attempt to meet the growing demand 

 for high-grade eggs is reported from America. This is a form 

 of combination, though not co-operative in our sense of the 

 term. A poultry-keeper living near Brooklyn City, N.Y., 

 set himself to supply direct to consumers absolutely new-laid 

 eggs, for which he found a ready sale at high prices. By 

 careful breeding and management he established a prolific 

 strain of fowls, and thus regulated to some extent the supply. 

 His trade grew rapidly and he brought neighbouring farmers 

 into the scheme by supplying them with eggs for hatching 

 from his selected stock, binding them to keep no other fowls, 

 and to sell to him the eggs obtained at stated prices, which, 

 however, were much better than they could otherwise obtain. 

 All eggs are guaranteed as laid on one or other of the farms 

 included in the combination within a few hours of delivery. 

 At the place of receipt the eggs are packed in dozen "cartons " 

 or boxes bearing the name of the Aurora Farms, and are 

 dispatched at once by vans either direct to the houses of 

 consumers or to retailers, who deliver them with other goods in 

 the original packages and are compelled to sell at the agreed 

 weekly prices. This trade has grown by leaps and bounds. 

 The cost of delivery and packages is somewhat high, but 

 not so great as if each farmer delivered his own, and is much 

 more than compensated for by the enhanced returns. At first 

 retailers were opposed to the scheme, but the best traders in 

 Brooklyn are now glad to have regular supplies for their 

 customers. There are many districts of England where 

 similar conditions prevail, and a trial of the system might 

 be made by individual enterprise or co-operation. 



