IO STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
Retailers often appreciate having eggs packed in cartons, as 
they can then sell them in these original packages just as they 
come from the farm. ‘This permits the fixing of responsibility — 
in case the goods prove unsatisfactory. Large consumers and 
the commission houses usually prefer that eggs be packed in 
the standard thirty dozen case with pasteboard fillers. When 
so packed they are easier to remove from the crate, and this is 
quite an item where large numbers of eggs are handled daily. 
There are several cases upon the market which are fitted 
with trays having wire loops or springs to hold the eggs in 
place. This arrangement permits the eggs being attractively 
displayed, but is not popular for several reasons: ‘They are 
more expensive than regular cases; they often become un- 
serviceable because of bent wires which do not hold the eggs 
firmly; and much time is required to fill and empty them, as 
each egg must be handled separately. 
Standard egg cases can be purchased second-hand at from 
five to ten cents each, complete with pasteboard fillers. Bakers, 
hotels, and large provision houses handle great quantities of 
cold-storage eggs, and the cases are usually sound and clean 
because of cold-storage requirements. One firm in New York 
makes a specialty of second-hand egg cases, securing them 
from consumers and selling in large or small lots to meet the 
requirements of each purchaser. The removal of the former 
stencil and the addition of a new one take but a moment, when 
a case of this kind beconies practically as good as new. 
Formerly the express companies returned empty cases free 
of charge, and shippers often preferred to use special cases of 
superior construction. Under a recent ruling, however, each 
express company handling a returning empty collects five cents. 
This. charge practically equals the cost of second-hand cases 
when the empty case is handled by one company only, and ex- 
ceeds it when handled by two. ‘Therefore it is often economy 
when selling eggs upon the open market to let the case go with 
the eggs and not have it returned at all. However, if the 
shipper prefers special cases he can have them built, or can 
build them himself, preferably in shape and size similar to the 
standard case. These can be returned and repeatedly used. 
Shippers frequently complain that the eggs they consign to 
commission merchants sell at a price lower than the quotations 
