The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-17

pulsive appearance condemns them be-
fore they have a chance for sale
Just at this time the commission men
are passing through the most trouble
some period of the entire year with re-
spect to this commodity. With the
fresh eggs are coming forward many
that have been kept over from last fall
packed in ashes salt, bran and patent
preservatives, out of which the egg
issues in an almost worthless condi-
ton. The country merchant buys of
the farmer. When the hens begin lay
ing in the spring, the latter takes his
little stock of really fresh laid eggs to
the dealers store. A neighbor, who
has lot packed away, learning that
Farmer So-and-So is sending in fresh
eggs, goes to his cellar or his barrels
and offers lot of fresh eggs" too,
with the result that they are ignorant
ly bought, and shipped in, where they
meet the inspection of the commission
men, and are dealt with accordingly.
The system Of home packing of eggs
in all sorts of so-called preserving ma
terial is equally condemned by COM
mission men. They contend that the
true method of handling eggs is for
farmers to forward them to market as
rapidly as they are laid, in order that
they may at once enter cold storage
where they can be properly cared for.
suance of improved methods of treat
ment, to carry the surplus supply of
springfield eggs at once to cold storage
where they are deposited and retained
in a minimum temperature of 80 de-
grees, or just above freezing point.
Their shipment for long distances, in
carload lots, both in summer and Win
ter is at the same controlling temper
allure. The result is that eggs laid in
March, April and May of last year,
thus cared for, are almost as accepta-
BILE, even for table use, at the present
time, as the freshly-laid article of to-
day. The real purpose of thus preserV-
ing the springfield eggs is to insure a,
supply during the cold winter months,
when the hens suspend operations.
The present mild winter has, among
other things, materially affected this
industry in the Northwest, in that under
their more comfortable surroundings
and conditions the hens in some locali-
ties have continued in business
throughout the season. Hence the in
f1uX just now of genuine fresh eggs,
which are selling at retail for 1919 cents
per dozen, and the resulting democrat
iZation of the cold storage branch of
the industry
These eggs are shipped from st. Paul
in carload lots to New England New
York and to Philadelphia, where excel
exist. There is also some demand from
points West. They are shipped in cases
containing thirty dozen each, every egg
being partitiOned off by itself in
pasteboard apartment. Every egg is
examined in the glare of an electric
test lamp before it is packed for re-
shipment In the refrigerators of the
commission house. The quality is de-
termined by the color and f1uidity of
the contents of the she'll The prime
are easily distinguishable by their So
lldity and fullness, and those which in
cline to reveal loss of substance are
classed and sold as seconds
The southern and central portions of
the state are the principal productive
localities. The industry. except in rare
instances, is not carried on systemat-
ically, as it might be, with profit it is
said. In larger degree. A local COM
mission man, who is a heavy dealer in
this commodity, expressed the opinion
that money could be made by farmers
in producing eggs and selling them as
low as 5 cents per Dozen
AS illustrating the claim of excellence
made for the cold storage eggs, a com
mission man tells this story: A keeper
of local eating house noticed a daily
visitor at his establishment, who al
ways called for fresh eggs and ate
them with relish. One day the CHS
toner, on paying his BILL asked: How
Is 1t L always manage to get fresh eggs
mere no matter when I come? Are thew
of your own raising?" mo" repIied
the clearinghouse keeper, at is this wav
Ihere is man over in MINNEAPOLIS
who has big poultry farm with moth
ing on it but thoroughbred fowls. He
is so afraid that somebody will get
some of his eggs and hatch them that
ne has made contract with me TO take
them all as fast as they are laid. on the
agreement that I shall cook them. So
ing" iioi IL
Is that true?" asked the commission
man, to whom the eating house keeper
told the story fei
Nav he replied, "They're onlv
these. cold storage eggs that I buv IF
you, put nobody can tell EN- from fresh