Milford chronicle., 1912-08-16
AN OPEN LETTER
TO BUYERS AND SHIPPERS OF EGGS

washington, -. L., aug. b, lSlL.
II is a conservative estimate that more
than S45 600, 600 are lost in the egg pro
ducing 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, 20 the money
that the housewife pays for the bad egg
that cannot be used. 1t is a loss to YOU,
to the farmer, to everyone 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?
/ When farmers, peddlers, merchants,
etc, come to You with eggs for sale talk
10 them about the improvement of the
market egg, and enlist their cooperation
in the elimination of this great loss. Here
are some of the fundamental points to be
considered by all egg men, whether pro-
ducers, shippers, or middlemen:
J.. Encourage the production of large
eggs. This can he accomplished by keep
ing pure bred general purpose" breeds
of fowls, Matching only the eggs that
weigh at least two ounces apiece and from
only the most vigorous stock. A higher
price for large than for small eggs will
help along the argument.
2 lnfertile eggs do not hatch, do not
form blood-rings and seldom form black /
rots. If the male birds are sold or penned !
up after June st the flock of hens will
lay more eggs and they will be infertile. /
3. A year-round observation of New
York egg receipts showed that over II
per cent were dirty shelled, and sold for
a alower price on this account. You should |
buy these dirty eggs at a lower price, for
you are paid less for them. If one nest
is provided for each six hens, in a cool,
dark place, kept clean and vermin free,
dirty eggs will be reduced to a minimum.
4. More than ten per cent of the eggs
received IL New York during the wear are
seconds because they are stale. Tell
your egg men that gathering eggs every
or twice daily in hot or murkv
weather, keeping them in a cool, clean,
dry place until marketed and marketing
at least once a week and more frequently
in the summer time, will reduce the num-
Der of stale eggs greatly Ofcourse, stale
eggs are worth less money than fresh
eggs all along the line
5, Can you convince your trade that
eggs from stolen nests and from incuba- Z
tors are never fit for sale2 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,
lirty, cracked eggs at home /
8. Do You know how to candle eggs?
4 not, learn and learn quickly! There
S no other way by which you can deter
nine the worth of what you are paving
or. Having yourself learned how to
yrade eggs show the merchants, peddlers
md farmers in your neighborhood by
means of the candle, what kind of eggs
hey are bringing to you. Farmers are
lot scamps, nor egg buyers angels. Show
he farmer the kinds of eggs YOU cannot
ay for and he will find a way to elimin-
te the bad egg and to make the good
gg even better
Z. When first quality eggs come to your
acking house what means do You take to
eep them so until they get to market?
o build up and keep a good reputation
)r your output YOU must grade carefully
nd uniformly; pack in good filters, flats
nd cases ship quickly and under good
)nditions. If you would be classed
nong up-to-date shippers you must have :
refrigeration that the chilling
the egg may begin the minute YOU re-
1--WE it. Candle in room where the :
mperature does not 90 above sSoF. +
hip chilled, in good refrigerator car.
car lots. If you cannot chill the eggs
efore shipping, use a refrigerator car,
ell iced, and ship only the minimum
ad that the eggs may receive the bene- z
of the ice before the market is reached.
NJ. f. Pennington, Phi. D. y
Dproved: James Wilson, Secretary.