Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-07-10
EGGS BY PARCEL POST
System of rlarketinP that Offers
Possibilities of Better Prices

fully by parcel post, and that this
method frequently secures better
price for the producer and fresher
demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
experts in the department. The de-
partment 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 permit him to ship his eggs
in the regular commercial case, which
holds 80 dozen eggs.
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
considerable proportion of his purchases
is undesirable or even unattractive in
appearance, he will not trouble to ask
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.
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-
baton and cause the egg to spoil and
mjure the shippers reputation. 1t is
advisable, therefore, to retain the 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
washed when intended for high=class
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 container of
corrugated pasteboard, metal, wood, or
other suitable material The post
office regulations require this container
to be so wrapped that nothing can
escape from the package, and each egg
in addition to be wrapped separately in
excelsior, cotton, or some such material.
Any soft paper serves the purpose
quite well. AS for the container itself,
there are many kinds on the market,
and the Department of Agriculture in
vestigators have not attempted to de-
eide which is the best. Instead, they
refer inquirers to the various state ex-
pertinent stations which have available
information on this question.
The larger the shipments that the
producer can arrange the cheaper can
he afford to sell his eggs. Within the
first and second zones of the parcel
post service, package costs 5 cents
for the first pound and only l cent
for each additional pound. Ordinarily
eggs weigh about lR pounds a dozen,
which, with the additional weight of
the wrapping and container, would
make package of dozen eggs weigh
between 2 and 3 pounds. The postage
on this would be 7 cents. If another
dozen eggs were included in the pack
age, the postage would not be more
than 9 cents, or AZ instead of cents
a dozen eggs.
Any post office will furnish complete
in regard to regulations
and rates, and, as already stated the
several state experiment stations have
in regard to the various
types of shipping boxes. The results
of the United States Governments in
of the matter have been
published in Farmers Bulletin 594, of
the Department of Agriculture, which
will be sent free on request.