The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-17
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

PRESERVING EGGs.-The subject of
the preservation of eggs, says the Boston
Journal of Chemistry, has recently attract
ed a great deal of attention, and many
methods of effecting it have been pub
lished though none are altogether perfect,
for the simple reason that the true cause OF
the spelling of the eggs is either unknown
by those who have attempted to furnish us
with directions, or has been lost sight OF
by them. There are two efficient causes
for the spelling of eggs, and unless one or
both Of these are avoided, we cannot hope
for success. The first is exposure to
high temperature, and the other is access
of air. It may be safely affirmed that at
temperatures below 80 degrees Fahr., near
ly all change ceases in organic bodies, while
very few organic substances will bear con-
tinual exposure to a temperature above 30
degrees. The freezing point is rather too
low for the preservation of eggs in good
condition, as freezing affects the flavor un-
favorably /; but, if we desire to preserve
eggs in the best manner, we must keep
them cool say at temperature below 90
degrees, if possible, a temperature which
is frequently maintained in good cellars.
But it will be of no use to place the eggs
in a cool cellar if they have been previously
exposed for hours to temperature OF over
80 degrees.
The collection of the eggs must, there
fore, in the first place, engage our atten-
ton. Those who raise poultry, and espe-
cially those who keep fowls for the sake of
their eggs, commit great error when they
fail to remove from their yards those birds
that are inclined to set, and which conse-
quently take every opportunity OF warm
ing the eggs in the nests. II any one Will
attempt to preserve eggs that have been
subjected to the Matching process for one or
two days, he will discover the force OF this
statement. Kohler, of Germany, who
owns an extensive poultry raising estab-
lishment, and who every winter preserves
thousands of eggs without ever losing one,
has recently published an account OF his
method of proceeding, and has given the
following rules for securing favorable re-
suits:
I. The nest must be placed in cool po-
sition.
O.. The fowls that show tendency to
set must be removed at once, and placed
in separate Enclosures until this propensity
has left them. a.sH
3. If many hens be confined in the same
Enclosure, or use the same nests for laying
from the nests several times day.
4. The eggs ought to be assorted accord
ing to age, and preserved in boxes with the
covers always partially open. These boxes
must be kept in a cool, airy and perfectly
dry place.
5. AT the commencement of winter, the
store of eggs is placed in some room that is
not heated by fire, but that is, at the
same time, thoroughly protected from
frost.
6. The packages should be SO arranged
that the Oldest may be used first.
Eggs treated according to these rules do
not acquire the peculiar taste which is gen.
orally the result of the recipes in vogue for
preserving eggs.
BUTTER IN SACKs.-The dairymen of
Washington Territory, for want Of tubs
and jars, have adopted method of put
ting up and keeping butter which, though
novel, presents some features that are
worthy the attention of those having
butter packed for family use OF for the
retail trade. The packing is thus de-
scribed:
All butter is packed in muslin sacks,
made in such form that the package, when
complete, is cylinder three or four inches
in diameter and from half foot to foot
in length. The butter goes from the churn,
as soon as worked over, into the cylindrical
bags, made of fine bleached muslin. The
packages are then put into large casks con-
tanning strong brine with slight admix-
ture of saltpeter, and by means of weights
kept always below the surface. The cloth
integument always protects the butter from
any impurities that chance to come in con-
tact with the package, and being always
buried in brine that protects it from the ac-
ton of the air, it has been ascertaned by
trial that butter put up in this way will
keep sweet longer than in any other way.
Besides, it is found easier and cheaper fol
the manufacturer than to pack either ir
jars or in firkins. And for the retailer
there is no telling the advantage on the
score of safety and convenience. These
rolls of butter can lie upon his counter as
safe from injury, from dust or other con
tact, as bars of lead can be rolled up fol
his customer in sheet Of paper with as
much propriety as bundle of matches. L
the consumer, when he gets home, discov-
ers specks of dust upon the outside of the
sack, he can throw it into pail of pure
cold water and take it out clean and white
AS he uses the butter from day to day
with sharp knife he cuts it off from the
end of the roll in slices of thickness srliteC
to his want, and peels off the cloth from
the end of the slice, leaving it in tidy form
to place upon the table.
ONE STEP TOWARD EDUCATING BEE
KEEPERs.-The following resolution was
introduced at a Bee-Keepers' Convention
by Hugh Cameron, of the District of Co
lumbia, and was adopted by the society:
NJ ITfsup C q Ia 4.