The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-08-21
"GAMA J|MS" HOM|ly
upon eggs AND HENS
Secretary Takes a Few Minutes
Off to Give Some Good
Advice

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.--It rs a
| conservative estimate that more than
$45, 100000 is lost in the egg produc-
ing sections annually because of i'm
proper handling. This enormous loss
is due to small eggs, cracked and
broken eggs, dirty, stale, heated
| (hatched) and rotten eggs. Just
think of the waste this sum means
! from the time the mother hen loses
! from her business of egg-laying in
order to hatch and bring up the hens
that lay these wasted eggs, to the
money that the housewife pays for the
bad eggs that cannot be used. 1t is a
loss to you, to the farmer, to every
one in the egg business, and to the
consumer. Will you assist us in our
effort to save this loss and to improve
the egg that finally gets to market?"
So asks Secretary Wilson of the de-
partment of agriculture, He con-
| tinues: st4 -t,q Erg4
| when farmers, peddlers, mer-
chants, etc, come to you with eggs for
sale, talk to. them about the improve
ment of the market egg. and enlist
| their cooperation in the elimination
Of this great loss. Here are some of
the fundamental points to be consid-
cred by all egg men, whether produc-
ers, shippers Or middlemen:
| Encourage the production of large
eggs. This can be accomplished by
keeping pure-bred general purpose
4 breeds of fowls, Matching only the
| eggs that weigh at least two ounces
apiece, and from only the most Wig
| orous stock. "A higher price for large
than for small eggs will help along
\ the argument. a4
''Infertiie eggs do not hatch, do not
form blood rings, and seldom form
black rots. lif the male birds are
sold or penned up after June 1 the
flock of hens will lay more eggs and
they will be infertile.
| "A year-round observation of New
York egg receipts showed that over
| II per cent were dirty shelled, and
sold for lower price on this account.
You should buy these dirty eggs at a
lower price, for you are paid less for
them. II one nest is provided for
each six hens, in a cool dark place.
kept clean and vermin-f free dirty eggs
will be reduced to a minimum.
More than 10 per cent of the eggs
received in New York during the year
are seconds because. they are stale.
Tell your egg men that gathering eggs
every afternoon, or twice daily in hot
or murky weather keeping them in a
cool, dry place until marketed, and
marketing at least once week. and
more frequently in the summertime.
VIII reduce the number of stale eggs
greatly. OF course, stale eggs are
| r. Lass u. -
along the line.
Can you convince your trade that
eggs from stolen nests and from incu-
bators are never fit for sale? If the
farmer thinks they are good, reliable
food, urge him to eat them at home,
For, since the egg-buyer can afford to
pay more for large, clean, fresh,
whole-shelled eggs, it is good business
for the farmer to use small. dirty,
cracked eggs at home.
do you know how to candle eggs
If not, learn, and learn quickly! There
is no other way in which you can de-
termine the worth of what you are
paying for Having yourself learned
how to grade eggs, show the mer-
chants, peddlers and farmers in your
neighborhood, by means of the can
die, what kind of eggs they are bring
ing to you Farmers are not scamps
nor egg buyers angels. Show the
farmer the kind of eggs you cannot
pay for and he will find a way to
eliminate the bad egg and to make
the good egg even better
when first quality eggs come to
your packing house. what means dc
| you take to keep them so until they
get to market? To build up and keep
a good reputation for your output you
must grade carefully and uniformly;
pack in good filters, flats and cases;
ship quickly and under good condi-
| tons. If you would be classed among
up-to-date shippers you must have
mechanical refrigeration, that the
chilling of the egg may begin the
minute you receive 1t. Candle in a
room where the temperature does not
go above IS degrees. Ship chilled in a
good refrigerator car, in car lots. II
You cannot chill the eggs before ship.
ping, use refrigerator car well iced
and ship only the minimum load, that
the eggs may receive the benefit OF
the ice before the market is reached.
Send this letter, or copies of it,
to the egg people in Your vicinity, If
: 1t will serve to strengthen your argu-
ment for better egg-haudlfng