Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-13
few EGGS BREAK
DURING SHIPMENT
Department of Agriculture Elk
periments and Finds Av-
erage Is SO Per Cent.
SOME MAY STILL BE USED
Use of Parcel Post Insures Producer
Better Price and Consumer
Fresher Article.

Washington, d. c., June Is. - That
eggs can be marketed successfully by
parcel post and that this method fire.
quently secures better price for the
producer and a fresher article for the
| consumer has now been demonstrated
| to the satisfaction of the experts in the
! United States department of agricul-
ture. The department conducted 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 per-
NIT him to ship his eggs in the regu-
lar commercial case which holds 80
dozen eggs.
In the course of these experiments
the department shipped 9,131 eggs in
466 lots. OF these 1927, or slightly less
than Sc per cent were broken, but
only 209, or slightly less than 2.3 per
cent were absolutely wasted. The 9TH
ers, though broken, could still be used.
The percentage of breakage. moreover,
will be greatly reduced, it is said.
when the employees of the postofice
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 |
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 postman delivers are
what he represents them to be.
Gambling Explained.
This can only be done by Gambling
them. Gambling, The process of test
ing eggs by passing light through them
so as to reveal the condition of the
is omitted by many pro-
iucers who rely on care in collecting
10 eliminate all bad eggs. 1t is. how
wei llupOSSiOlt " dNOlu OCCdSlOHdIl
accident, and Gambling is therefore ad-
disable as an extra precaution. A sim
Die outfit can be made out of small
land lamp and an ordinary pasteboard {
,ox sufficiently large to be placed over {
he lamp, after the ends have been re- I
moved, without risk of fire. In order '
o supply air to the enclosed lamp, {
lotches should be cut in the edge on !
which the box rests. A round hole is c
hen cut in the box at the level of the c
amp flame and the Gambling done by
olding each egg against this hole c
rhile the rest of the room is in dark c
ess. The light from the lamp reveals ?
he contents of the egg and those that e
how any defect can be rejected. 9
If possible, only infertile eggs should C
e sent to market. Fertile eggs deter C
rate rapidly in warm weather and e
re the cause of much loss. A broody k
en- on the nest or accidental expos a
re to a high temperature may start
cubation and cause the egg to spoil n
nd injure the shippers reputation. 1t b
advisable, therefore, to retain the c.
rtile eggs for home use or dispose of Il
lem in some other way than through Il
lie parcel post. This is also true of b
,iled eggs. Eggs should never be el
ashed when intended for high class q
ade. since the process removes a fl