Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-09-05
EGGS PRESERVED
IN WATER GLASS
.,est Directions for Using This
Method With Success

popular bulletin No. 54, Just
,.,ued by the state experiment sta
,on on Preserving EGGS" is the
.ork of George A. Olsen, the chemist
:. the station. The bulletin is here
given in full.
The Oversupply
The prices charged for eggs in the
all and especially the winter
months, are beyond the prices which
those of ordinary means can afford.
While in the spring and SUNNI err,
when eggs are sold at reasonable
nrices, there is also an over produc-
ION and consequently an over stock
lne of the market. The over supply
aIther reached the cold storage for
winter trade or is desiccated, pre-
served, packed or wasted.
One of the methods for the han
ding of the over supply is what is
Known as the waterglass method,
which, through repeated trilas, has
clearly demonstrated that eggs pre-
served in this way will keep for long
Deriods of time without spelling.
This method, while still in it's expert
mental stages, was published with
others in bulletin No. II of this sta
ton, the supply of which is now ex-
hausted. But owing to the many re-
quests for that issue, together with
additional facts, as well as questions
that are regularly asked on this sub
iect it has been deemed desirable to
republish that bulletin, describing
briefly the essential points in popu-
lar form.
The waterglass method for pre-
serving eggs was first made known
to US about 16 years ago, and ever
since that time there has been an in
creasing demand for waterglass for
this one purpose.
In 1906 Professor R. w. Thatcher
summarized in bulletin No. II the
conclusions reached in preserving
eggs in different ways by various in
vestigators, as well as Incorporating
the results of his experiments. Ac-
cording to his findings the lime and
waterglass method appeared to give
the most satisfactory results and fin
ally he gave preference to the latter,
because of the fact that the water
glass method did not seem to impair
the quality to any marked degree, as
was noticed in the case of the lime
water method, which produced an
undesirable chalky flavor.
The eggs should be collected daily
from only clean nests and from a
healthy flock. 1t is preferable to use
infertile eggs and thereby eliminate
the possibilities for embryonic devel-
opment and subsequent spelling. In
no case should old, sun-baked,
cracked or thin-shelled eggs be used.
Cracks are usually detected by gent
" tapping the eggs or Gambling them.
Any receptacle that is impervious
to and does not corrode in water is
suitable for holding the eggs and the
waterglass solution. Generally glazed
earthenware jars, galvanized tubs or
buckets and wooden tubs or kegs are
used. In case of wooden receptacles
II is desirable to let them stand filled
with water several days, then empty
and scald before using.
The size of the container will de-
pend upon the number of eggs to be
preserved. The receptacle should be
Just large enough to hold the eggs
submerged in the waterglass solu
ton. A too large container means
an unnecessary expenditure and
Wastefulness in the use of the water
glass solution.
Below is given convenient size
Jars, which can be purchased from
local dealers; the approximate num-
Der of eggs average size and vol
ume) they will hold, together with
the pints of waterglass solution that
viii be required to cover the eggs.
Size of VIII Hold Waterglass
Container Eggs Required
| gallon 40 3 pts. 10 oZs.