The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-11-15
MARKETING EGGS
BY PARCEL POST
Uncle Sam Assists Producers in
Developing Special Trade in
Towns and Cities.
NON.FERTILE KIND FAVORED
Small Flock Owners Can Advantage.
ousIy Utilize Mail Service in Get
ting Produce to Consumers!
Use Uniform Containers.

Uncle Sam stars as an egg man at
present as a result of the high prices
Of eggs and the excellent facilities
which parcel post service provides for
the transportation of these products
of the farm flock to the tables of the
city consumers. While the great bulk
of eggs which comes from distant pro-
ducing territory will continue to be
shipped by other methods, city trade
can be supplied with large portion of
its fresh eggs from within the first
and second zones by parcel post to
the advantage of both producer and
consumer. The producer who is not
satisfied with his marketing facilities
may find in the parcel post means of
solving his egg-selling problems. This
applies especially to the man whose
flock is so small that he cannot make
case shipment, that is, shipments in
the regular 30-dozen size egg cases.
Market eggs should be shipped only
from healthy fowls that are kept I'M
der proper sanitary conditions and
supplied with sound, wholesome feed.
If possible, only non-fertile eggs
should be produced for market; fer
tile eggs deteriorate rapidly and are
the cause of much loss. The nests
should be clean and sanitary so that
the eggs will not be soiled. The eggs
should be gathered at least once day
and stored in well-ventilated place
where they can be kept as cool as
possible. AS washing removes the mu-
cilaginous coating of eggs and opens
the pores Of the shell it should never
be practiced in the case of eggs in
tended for high-class trade. Soiled
eggs should be used at home or dis
posed Of otherwise than to a parcel
post customer. Every egg which is
shipped by mail should be previously
candled so that all eggs which show
any defect may be held at home. For
parcel post shipment it is essential
that uniform containers and uniform
pack should be used, as otherwise the
packages will not wear well nor will
they look attractive and appeal to the
fancy trade. Furthermore the con-
tainers should be stout and durable
so as to make it worth while to return
them as "empties' for subsequent use.
The ideal container is simple in con-
struction, efficient in service and cheap.
1t must not cost too much and it must
be serviceable enough to be used sew
eral times.
How to Pack Euos.
According to the post office regula-
tons eggs will be accepted for local
delivery when they are so packed in
a basket or other container as to pre-
vent damage to other mail matter.
Eggs to be sent beyond the local Office
are accepted for mailing regardless of
distance when each egg is wrapped
separately and surrounded with excel
sior, cotton or other suitable material
and packed in a strong container made
of double-faced, corrugated pasteboard,
metal, wood or other suitable material
and wrapped so that nothing can es-
cape from the package. All such par
cells must be labeled Eggs" Eggs in
parcels weighing more than 20 pounds
are accepted for mailing to offices in
the first and second zones when pack
ed in crates, boxes, buckets or other
containers having tight bottoms to pre-
cent the escape of anything from the
package and so constructed as properly
20 protect the contents. Such pack
ages must be marked "Eggs-This Side
Up," and must be transported outside
IF mail sacks or boxes.
1t is advisable that square-block It's
sue paper which comes in packages of
500 sheets each, soft wrapping paper.
or newspaper should be used around
each egg, as otherwise there is a dam
ger of breakage in handling. Average
aens' eggs will weigh about two ounces