American Agriculturist, December 8, 1923 
4#1 
Avoiding Egg Losses Through Breakage 
After the Eggs Are Graded, They Must Be. Packed According to Size 
T HERE are two factors in marketing eggs 
that limit, possibly more than any others, 
the returns of the small producer, at least so 
far as the price received is concerned. Those 
factors are grading and packing, and one goes 
with the other. Of course, there are factors in 
the egg producing business that limit produc¬ 
tion, including the selection of layers, feeding 
rations and methods, as well as housing facili¬ 
ties. However, after the eggs are produced, the 
poultryman has these two factors facing him 
on the marketing end and if he is going to over¬ 
come them, he cannot allow his vigilance to 
slip in, the slightest degree. 
There is always a certain amount of pressure 
exerted when the cover is pressed on an egg 
crate. Thin shell eggs cannot stand this 
pressure, be it ever so slight, especially when 
being handled in transportation. As a result 
they not only cut down the results by diminish¬ 
ing the contents of the crate, but they reduce 
the value of perfect eggs in nearby through 
fillers. One of the best authorities on egg 
marketing in the United States, who has given 
the problem of better packing of eggs a great 
deal of intensive and scientific study has the 
following to say about egg breakage: 
“The question of increased breakage of 
used by shippers of large graded eggs to avoid 
breakage is by packing 24 dozen in a case. 
Long eggs mixed with small eggs are sure to be 
broken on the ends when packed in standard 
size cases that hold 30 dozen. Therefore, if 
you are going to eliminate breakage, the eggs 
must be graded and the soft shelled ones used 
or sold at home. They should not be shipped. 
Furthermore long eggs should not be mixed 
with soft ones. There is no question but what 
men who regularly ship eggs to the city market 
have materially increased their income by ob¬ 
serving these two factors.—F. W. O., New 
York. 
Unless eggs are graded for size and shape, we are bound to get a condition like this 
in the fillers, which clearly shows why we get so many complaints about cracked eggs. 
TheTirst’faetor, that of grading the eggs, is of 
vast importance in obtaining and holding a 
good market. The second factor, which blends 
with the first, the packing of eggs to avoid 
breakage in transportation, controls the returns 
after the eggs have been received. It is very 
obvious that a dealer, be he retailer or whole¬ 
saler, who receives a shipment that contains 
a large number of cracked eggs, will hesitate 
to bother with such produce where he has to 
pick out the damaged goods. 
Naturally enough where there are a large 
number of cracked eggs in a case, the shipper 
cannot expect full payment for the consign¬ 
ment. But even though the shipper is willing 
to take a lower price, due to the damaged 
condition of the contents of the case, neverthe¬ 
less, he will find that the dealer is reluctant to 
handle produce that continually comes through 
in an unsatisfactory condition. A case that 
contains cracked eggs means extra handling, 
disposal of “cracks” and usually smeary eggs 
in the remainder of the case. 
The problem of proper grading of eggs is 
always before us. An instance was called to 
the writer’s mind recently by a merchant of 
New York City who handles a large quantity 
of eggs in the retail trade. He purchased, for 
a trial, a case of eggs from Michigan. One-half 
the case contained nicely selected white eggs. 
The other half contained, in the two Upper lay¬ 
ers, a fair grade of brown eggs. However, 
under these two upper layers were nothing but 
small pullet eggs, many of which were not 
much larger than pigeon eggs. This dealer 
has blackballed the shipper of these as far as 
futurd business is concerned. 
But just as important as grading is the pack¬ 
ing of eggs to avoid breaking in transportation. 
The problem is not as serious as it was years 
ago. Commercial poultrymen are packing 
their eggs much better, partly as a result of 
better grading as to the shape of the egg and 
the thickness of the shell. Long eggs naturally 
are not accommodated to the fillers as readily 
as a normally shaped egg. They protrude 
above the filler with the result that when 
the cover is put on they are crushed. 
eggs would undoubtedly be largely solved if 
the persons packing those eggs would eliminate 
those with very thin shells. Ordinarily it is 
not necessary to use a candler to determine 
which of the eggs will not stand shipment. 
If we could convince the producer or shipper of 
eggs that he can expect pay for only those eggs 
which reach market in good condition, some 
of the trouble would be eliminated. In our 
breakage tests, we have found that aftdr we 
have taken out the thin shelled eggs, we get 
practically no breakage.” 
GOLD BRICKS IN EGGS 
T HE New York City office of the State 
Department of Farms and Markets, as 
well as the staffs of farm and trade papers, 
has been swamped with letters from farmers 
to collect money due them from unreliable 
receivers of eggs. The Department and the 
representatives of farm and trade papers 
have found that New York City is honey¬ 
combed with unreliable egg dealers who use 
fictitious names under which they lure the 
shipments of unsuspecting producers. 
Some of these dealers are located in the 
wholesale market district but most of them 
rent deserted cellars in distant localities. A 
number of these dealers print the names of 
banks and reliable mercantile agencies on their 
stationery as references. They have absolutely 
no authority to use such references. A charac¬ 
teristic of the letters sent out by these un¬ 
reliable concerns is the elaborate promises 
that they make to farmers. One concern 
promised recently the following “Highest 
prices for your eggs;—Immediate day of 
arrival remittances;—All claims for damages 
filed from this end—Empty egg cases fur¬ 
nished cheap.” Others are models of perfect 
letter writing which, because of their attrac- 
As a case appeared as it was opened. This case did not contain graded eggs. 
result the long ones were a total loss. 
As a 
The standard honey combed egg filler is 
inches high and lf s inches wide. A large 
proportion of the .eggs that are shipped are 
more than 2j4 inches long. Some of them 
measure 2% inches in length. Even though 
these extra long eggs may have strong shells, 
nevertheless they will not carry safely in fillers 
of this size, unless they are carefully graded 
and evenly packed. Excelsior pads are sub¬ 
stituted for the ordinary flats between the 
honey comb fillers. The size of the crate is 
increased in height an inch, at least by nailing 
strips on the sides and ends. Another method 
How breakage may be avoided. Note how the depth of the case has been affected 
by including a 1 x 2 inch strip under the cover. 
Warm Water in Winter—A dairy cow’s 
body is more than half water. It is evident that 
in order to produce a large amount of milk she 
must have an ample supply of pure drinking 
water. It should not be ice cold during the 
winter time, since it will require feed to warm 
the water and dairy feeds are expensive fuel 
substances. 
_CATTLE BREEDERS_ 
HOLSTEIN BULLS/or Sale 
Sons of 
DUTCHLAND COLANTHA SIR INKA 
F1SHK1LL FARMS, Hopewell Junction, N. Y. 
HENRYJVIORGENTHAU, Jr., Owner 
HOLSTEINS and GUERNSEYS 
Fresh cows and springers. 100 head of the 
finest quality to select from. Address 
A. F. SAUNDERS CORTLAND, N. Y. 
HOLSTEINS 
Extra fine lot registered 
cows fresh or soon due. 
10 registered heifers soon due. 20 registered heifers 
ready to breed. 4 high record service bulls. 
J. A. LEACH_CORTLAND, N. Y. 
HIGH GRADE, TUBERCULIN TESTED GUERNSEY COWS 
FRESH AND SPRINGERS 
Sold subject sixty day retest guarantee. 
DR. J. WM. FINK. Veterinarian, NEWBURGH.N. Y. 
_SWINE BREEDERS_ 
PIGS FOR SALE 
Chester White and Yorkshire Crossed and Chester 
and Berkshire Crossed Pigs, 6 to 7 weeks old, $4 
each, and 7 to 8 weeks old, $4.50. I have 20 Pure 
Black Berkshires, 7 to 8 weeks old, $5 each, Boars 
$7 each. Pure Chester White Pigs, 7 to 8 weeks old, 
$5 each, Boars $7 each. Will ship from 1 to 100 to 
your approval C. O. D. 
WALTER LUX, 388 Salem St., WOBURN, MASS. 
HAMPSHIRFS FIGS, all ages, not akin to boars. 
oiunLo Many out of famous Wickware breed¬ 
ing. Some nice Gilts and Boars, Bred Sows and Gilts. 
Registered Free. Special Prices. 
ROY J. FREET, R. F. D. 4, A. A., Shippensburg, Pa. 
QUALITY O. I. C’s. 
PRENTICE W. HIBBARD, 
A few August pigs, 
cheap for quick sale. 
NEW ALBANY, PA. 
PEDIGREED BIG TYPE CHESTER WHITES 
75 young bred sows, $25 to $50; 35 service boars, $25 to 
$35; 75 good fall pigs, priced low, out of my Big Grand 
Champion Wildwood Prince boar and big sows. 
_C. E. CASSEL, HERSHEY, PA._ 
PURE BRED CHESTER WHITES 
FOR SALE—Service Boars; well grown, typy individuals. 
Also fall pigs of either sex. 
CARLTON R USSELL, Crown Point, Essex Co., N. Y. 
Big Type Chester Whites M 8 ne?. ra ^. c ,W£ 
Prepaid._ GEO. F. GRIFFIE, R. 3, NEWVILLE, PA. 
RFOISTFRFft ft I f and Chester white pigs. 
INLVJlO I H\LP u. 1 . L. E, P. ROGERS, WAYYILLE, K. T. 
LARGE BERKSHIRES AT HIGHWOOD 
Largest herd in America. Free booklet. 
Box 10 DUNDEE* N. Y. 
Grand champion breeding:. 
HARPENDING 
tiveness and the sincerity of their tone, un¬ 
doubtedly have induced many farmers to ship 
their eggs. 
Work Fast, Then Disappear 
One swindling dealer a short time ago 
rented a cellar for a month. In three weeks he 
had received enough eggs to retire from that 
location. No farmer took the trouble to write 
the Department of Farms and Markets asking 
about this man until after he had vanished. 
The only thing left for the Department 
and other agencies to do is to see that this 
firm does not establish itself under another 
name. 
Attempts to drive unscrupulous concerns 
from the New York City markets can be 
successful only if farmers and shippers do their 
part. There is a printed list of legitimate and 
licensed dealers to be had from the Depart¬ 
ment. Where the shipper is determined to go 
outside that list he should at least write to 
the New York City Office, State Department 
of Farms and Markets, 53 Park Place, and 
ask it as to the reliability of the concern. 
When shipments are made to unknown con¬ 
cerns and losses result, shippers have none 
but themselves to blame. They are following 
the practices of those who bought “gold 
bricks” years ago. 
BABY CHICKS 
that 
pat) 
Well-hatched, well-bred, from best heavy 
egg strains of Reds, Rocks, Leghorns. 
Wyandottes, etc. Safe arrival guaran¬ 
teed within 1200 miles, free book. 
W. F. HILLPOT, Box 29, Frenchtown, N.J. 
Bar Rock Pullets, handsome. Heavy Laying Stock. 
$1.50 each. Lots of 100 or more $1.35. Brown Leg¬ 
horn Pullet9 $1.25. White Leghorn Pullets $1.25 each. 
Inspection invited. Registered Airdale Pups $25. 
HUMMER’S POULTRY FARM 
FRENCHTOWN, N. J., R. 1 
FOUR BARRON PEDIGREE STRAIN S.C.&itt 
Exclusively. Fine healthy cockerels this month. 
82 to $3 each. 
„ YEARLING HENS. 81.50 each 
FEEK’S WHITE LEGHORN FARM, CLYDE, NEW YORK 
SPECIAL PRICES- 
on all breeds of turkeys, ducks, chickens, geese, guineas, 
hares and dogs. Catalog free. Hatching eggs in season. 
H. H. FREED_TELFORD, PA. 
T 
'URKEYS, Geese, Ducks, Guineas, Chickens, also 
r n ||;„ n ftOC large illus. catalog free 
VUIIIC EDWIN SOUDER - - SELLERSVILLE, PA. 
I ARFF STOCK fine Pou ' tr y, Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, Guin- 
GrtiVUG JIUUV eas, Bantams.Collies, Pigeons.Chicks. Stock, 
Eggs, low; catalog. PIONEER FARMS, Telford, Pennsylvania. 
FREE BOOKon 
CONTAGIOUS ABORTION 
Describes cause, effects and treat¬ 
ment; tells how farmers in all parts 
of D. S. are stopping the ravages 
of this costly malady. 
Write for free copy today. 
ABORNO LABORATORY 
11 Jeff Street. Lancaster, Wls. 
SI 000 Secures farm with 12 Cattle, Horses, Crops and 
125 Poultry, 5 hogs, brood sow, gas engine, cream sep¬ 
arator, full Implements; 75 acres near village in fine farm¬ 
ing district; good markets; dark loam fields, 10-eow spring- 
watered pasture, estimated 500 cds. wood, valuable 
timber, 1000-tree equipped sugar bush; variety fruit; 
good 7-room house, slate roof, big barn, silo, running 
water, poultry houses. To settle affairs now $4000 
takes all, only 81000 needed. See page 23, Illus. Catalog 
Bargains—many states. Copy free. STROUT FARM 
AGENCY. 150R Nassau St„ New York City, _ 
TO BREED, ABORTION, ETC. 
in All Animals Guaranteed 
Cured. Causes and treatment 
explained in our Free Booklet. Remedy $2 Bot. 
The Breed-0 Remedy Co., p. o. Box 240-A, Bristol, Conn 
FAILURE 
D A TrCMTO Write today for free instruction 
I I iV. 1 \ I ^ book and Record of Invention 
blank. Send sketch or model 
for personal opinion. CLARENCE A. O’BRIEN, Regis¬ 
tered Patent Lawyer, 73-A Security Savings & Com’l Bank 
| Bldg., directly across street from Patent Office, Wash¬ 
ington. D. C. 
Natural Leaf Tobacco * o »«'"4’oo; 2 om».Isit- 
* Ui/wvvu Smoking, 5 lbs. 81.25. 
! 10 lbs. $2.50; 20 lbs 84 50. KiUMERS UNION, Mayfield, Ky. 
