Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-06-27
EGGS BY PARCEL POST
SAFEST AND BEST WAY
AS ystem of Marketing that Offers Possibilities
of Better Prices for the Producer and
Fresher Articles for Consumer

sunny y! PdlCel posi- ana tnat this
method frequently secures better
price for the producer and a freshcr
article for the consumer has now been
demonstrated to the satisfaction of
the experts in the United States de-
partment of agriculture The depart
ment conducted tests that covered
period Of five months. At the end
Of that period it came to the conclu.
sion that the parcel post was of par
ucular 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 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 SO per cent were broken, but
only 2O9 or slightly less than % pc:
cent were absolutely wasted The
others, though broken, could still be
used. The percentage of breakage.
moreover, VII be greatly reduced, it
is said, when the employees Of the
Post Office become more accustomed
10 handling such fragile matter.
That tne 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
or they alone will bring remunerat-
We prices. Moreover, if the customer
Who buys in small lots finds that any
considerable proportion Of his pur-
:hases is undesirable or even unat.
ract:ve in appearance, he will not
rOuble to ask for deductions on tina;
account; he will simply discontinue
his orders. The producer, therefore
must see to it that all the eggs tn
Dost-man delivers are what he rep
"csents them to be.
This can only be done by candlins
hem. Gambling, The process Of test,
ng eggs by passing light through
hem SO as to reveal the coalition
Of the cCntentS,' is omitted by many
producers who rely on care In collect
ing to eliminate all bad eggs. It is,
however, impossible to avoid an &C.
therefore advisable as an extra pre-.
caution. A simple outfit can be made
out of small hand lamp and an o.:
binary Dashboard box sufficiently large
to be placed over the lamp, after the
ends have been removed, without
risk of fire. In order to 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 level Of the lamp flame
and the Gambling done by holding
each egg against this hole while the
rest Of the room is in darkness. The
light for mthe lamp reveals the con
tents Of the egg and those that show
any defect can be rejected.
If possible only infertile eggs should
be sent to market. Fertile eggs deter
iorate rapidly in warm weather and
are the cause Of much loss. A broo1y
hen on the nest or accidental expos
ure to high temperature may start
incubation and cause the egg to spoil
and injure the shippers reputation.
1t is advisable, therefore, TO retain
the fertile eggs for home use or dis
pose Of them in some other way than
through the parcel post. This IS
also true of soiled eggs. Eggs should
never be washed when intended foT
high-class trade, since the process re-
moves a natural mucilaginOus coat
ing and opens the pores Of the shell.
After this thorough elimination Of
the unfit, the eggs that remain Should
be carefully packed in containeT
of corrugated pasteboard, metal, wood
or other suitable material. The post
office regulations requir this contain