Connecticut western news., 1914-06-18
Eggs by Parcel Post.


 fully by parcel post and that this metl.od frequently secures better price for the producer and fresher article for the consumer has now been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the experts in the U. s. Department of Agriculture. The Department con- ducted tests that covered a period of five months. At the end of that period it came to the conclusion that the parcel post was of particular value to the man whose flock was too small or who lives too far from express service to permit him to ship his eggs in the regular com mercial case which holds 30 dozen eggs.
 In the course of these experiments the Department shipped 9,l31 eggs in 466 lots. Of these 327 or slightly less than 3. 6 percent were broken, but only 209 or slightly less than 2.3 per cent were absolutely wasted. The others, though broken, could still be used. The percentage of breakage, moreover, will be greatly reduced, it is said, when the employees of the post office become more accustomed to handling such fragile matter.
 That the eggs should be properly packed is of course essential. This implies time, care and some expense and is one reason why no attempt should be made to market by parcel post any but the finest quality of eggs, for they alone will bring remunerative prices. Moreover, if the customer who buys in small lots finds that any con- siderable proportion of his purchases is undesirable or even unattractive in ap- pearance, he will not trouble to ask for deductions on that account; he will simply discontinue his orders. The producer, therefore, must see to it that all the eggs the post-man delivers are what he represents them to be.
 This can only be done by candling them. Candling, "The process of test ing eggs by passing light through them so as to reveal the condition of the con- tents" '" is omitted by many producers who rely on care in collecting to elimi- nate all bad eggs. 1t is, however, inn possible to avoid an occasional accident and candling is therefore advisable as an extra precaution. A simple outfit
 
 and an ordinary pastboard box suffi- ciently large to be placed over tho lamp, after the ends have been removed, without risk of fire. In order te supply air to the enclosed lamp, notches should be cut in the edge on which the box rests. A round hole is then cut in the box at the levelsof the lamp flame and the candling done by holding each egg against this hole while the rest of the room is in darkness. The light from the lamp reveals the contents of the eggs and those that show any de- feet can be rejected. .. 5.
 If possible only infertile eggs should be sent to market. Fertile eggs de- teriorate rapidly in warm weather and are the cause of much loss. A broody hen on the nest or accidental exposure to high temperature may start incu- bation and cause the egg to spoil and injure the shippers reputation. It is advisable, therefore, to retain tho fer tile eggs for home use or dispose of them in some other way than through the parcel post. This is also true of soiled eggs. Eggs should never be Wdniltd WUtu luteuutd nlRn Clhhh trade, since the process removes natural mucilaginous coating and opens the pores of the shell.
 After this thorough elimination of the unfit, the eggs that remain should be carefully packed in a container of corrugated pasteboard, metal, wood or other suitable material. The post office regulations require this container to be wrapped that nothing can escape from the package and each egg in addi- tion to be wrapped separately in excel sior, cotton, or some such material. Any suft paper serves the purpose quite we'll. AS for the container itself, there are many kinds on the market and the Department of Agriculture inyestiga- tors have not attempted to decide which is the best. Instead they refer inquir- CTS to the various State experiment stations which have available informa- tion on this question.