The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-03-12

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
Because of the methods of handling
and marketing eggs in common use
among the general farmers who fur
nish the great bulk of the supply, it
is not often that the producer can get
the full benefit of the high prices for
strictly fresh eggs during the fall and
winter months. 1t is customary in
many sections of the country for the
farmer to take to town at irregular
intervals basket Of eggs some Of
which may be clean and some dirty,
some absolutely fresh and some dis
tinctly below the highest grade. He is
usually paid by number, not quality,
and thus gets no additional profit from
the eggs that are really first class.
The village merchant, moreover, who
takes these eggs is not usually in a
position to make regular shipments
to large markets. The result of all
this is that before the eggs reach the
ultimate consumer they have deterio-
rated to such an extent that they are
not of quality to command the high
est prices.
This waste can be, to great extent
at least, remedied by system of mar
keting eggs through creameries. 1t
is not necessary for the creamery to
be cooperative one, for even pri-
vately owned establishment will natu
rally be DESTROYS of adding to the
prosperity of the neighborhood and to
oblige as far as possible its patrons
For this reason it should content
itself with a moderate profit on the
eggs. This was the case with one pri
vately owned creamery in the north
ern part of Minnesota, which may be
taken as an excellent example of the
possibilities of marketing eggs in this
way
A short time ago about 1875 farmers
were selling their eggs through this
agency. They we're scattered over
wide territory, one man even driving
IA miles. Before the creamery con
sented to market their eggs for then
each farmer was required to sign thu
; following agreement:
For the privilege of selling eggs t.
the creamery company and getting
market established for guarantees
fresh eggs, l, the undersigned, hereb,
pledge myself to comply in every wa,
with the following rules:
: II agree to deliver eggs at tn
creamery that will not be to excee
eight days old and to be picked i
I (gathered) twice every day.
Eggs to be of uniform size (no III
dersize or oversize eggs).
!, Eggs to be clean and to be kept /
a cool, dry cellar.
3 Brown eggs to be put in one ca
i ton and white in another and $
t marked.
S Each egg to be stamped on tn
s side and carton to be stamped on tn
e top.
II agree not to sell any eggs that
\. have marked with the creamery cor
!. pany's trademark to anyone else bl
!. the creamery company, and to retur
!. stamps and other supplies that hay
). been furnished, in case should decic
!. to discontinue to sell eggs to Il
creamery company
), Several points IN this agreement a.
g worthy of notice. In the first plac
= eight days may not seem sufficient
!. often in the majority of places to d
: liver the eggs, but the nights in MI
= nesota, even in summer, are usual
cool. and this, together with the gat
ering twice day and the storage
8. dry. cool cellars, was found suffice
L to keep the eggs in good condition.
% by no means follows, however, tn
+ this would be possible elsewhere.
y The brown and white eggs were sc
~ arated because it was found that tt
added to the attractiveness OF t
lie packages, and, secondly, because
ly encouraged the keeping of hens viii
al lay white eggs. During the spri
u months the owner of the creame
h paid one cent more for white eggs tn
u for brown on the ground that in t
~ future he could obtain more for the
in the market, and that he wished
n, stimulate the keeping of one class
o. chickens in order to insure me
TX uniform market
a The stamping of the eggs is imp
IT. tant. The stamp contained the nal
sit J of the creamery, the creamery bra
q, md a serial number for each produc
Thus, in case of any carelessness
Mt failure to maintain the proper quail
at it was possible to trace the prod
n. back to the individual producer 9
ia. lay the alame where it belonged.
dc Each farmer was furnished will
So supply of cartons each OF which h
one dozen eggs and were so shal