The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-10-08

NOESN'T it make you really pro-
voked, Mrs. Housewife, to break
~ an egg and find it bad? OF
course it does, and equally. Of
curse. you have had occasion to be
annoyed on that ground not nee but
a good many times.
The only protection is for every
housewife to provide herself with an
egg Gambling outfit, to test the eggs she
buys with this as soon as they are sent
home and to return to the store those
that she finds are unfit for use. Most
grocers will not object to taking back
eggs that have not been broken. but
they are not enthusiastic about making
good when eggs are broken and their
unftness subsequently reported. 1t
takes very little time to candle ar egg,
and If the ~housekeeper will learn to
distinguish the different grades Of eggs
she can be sure of quality before break
ing the shells.
Much of the trouble is due to haste
in Gambling. say the grocers. Egg
gamblers have to do a given number of
cases in a day, and in order to get
through they hurry and do their work,
carelessly. If all housekeepers would
rise up and send back the poor eggs
before breaking them the volume of
returned eggs would be SO great that
the dealers, in self defense, would be
obliged to find some way Of having the
Gambling properly done.
Information is now available for ev-
cry housekeeper as to how she may
candle eggs at home. Uncle Sam has
devised an egg Gambling chart which
will be sent free to any one applying
to the editor in chief, division of pub
lications. department of agriculture,
Washington. as long as the supply
lasts.
This chart shows the eggs in their
natural size as they appear before a
candle and also as they look when open
in a glass ICE All Of the illustra-
tons are in color. and in order to get
exact reproductions twelve impressions
process.
The pictures represent an absolutely
fresh egg. slightly stale eggs. decided
ly stale eggs. eggs with yolks sticking
to the shell. eggs in which the chicken
has developed so far that blood has
formed, moldy eggs. added eggs. and
eggs having a green yolk.
Comparatively few housewives are
aware that a green color In the white
Of eggs Is due to the presence of bill
lions of a certain species of bacteria
that make a green coloring matter.
Eggs with this greenish tint, eve
though the yolks seem to be perfect. !
are not fit for food.
1t may be pointed out that while it is
possible to judge Of fruits and vegeta-
bles. in some degree. by the condition
Of their outer peel or coating. eggs can
not be judged so successfully in this
way. It is safe to say that the egg !!
with a shiny shell is apt to be aged
and that the egg having the "bloom"
or powdery appearance is very fresh.
but between the extremes the shell ap-
pearance furnishes no reliable guide.
In Gambling. the egg should be held
in front Of a strong light in a dark
of a room. A hole an inch and
quarter in diameter cut in a paste
board box and slipped over an electric
bulb or one cut in a tin box and used
over the chimney of an oil lamp or the
globe Of a gas fame will enable the
to Judge the quality Of an
egg If she compares its appearance
when held before the light with the
government Gambling card.