Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-28
Marketing Eggs

/ The marketing OF eggs is some
what different proposition from the
marketing of other farm products
apples and peaches, for example. In
| the case of these latter named
! products, the consumer can easily see
something of their quality and condi-
| ton before he buys them, without
even handling them. In the case OF
eggs the situation is different, for the
quality is hidden by the shell, and is
not easily determined Immediately,
as in the case of apples or peaches.
| Eggs may be candled and their
quality determined. The commission
| man and jobber can do this, but 1t is
not so easy for the ultimate consum-
err. the housewife. She does not have
the facilities for Gambling, nor does
she know what to look for; all she
knows is that the egg is either gooo
or it is bad.
| Since the nature of the egg is such
that it's history is not an open
book" and since the consumer has
! frequently had bad eggs when she
| thought she was getting good ones
the egg is sometimes looked upon
with more or less suspicion. The
same suspicion is felt to a larger eN-
tent by the local dealer or commits
I sion man to whom the farmer sells
his eggs. unless they know the condl-
tons under which the eggs are pro-
duced and the way they are handleu
| before selling.
| The farmer can do a lot to allay
this suspicion and can get more
money for his product at the same
time if he will produce eggs In such
| a Way and handle them in such way
as to improve their quality.
He can do this by watching Few
noints in the management of his
flock, Just removing the males from
the flock and keeping them penned up
bv themselves is simple matter, yel
it will be a big step in the proQuctlon
of good quality eggs in warm "eaeh-
err. BY doing this, the farmer VIII De
producing infertile eggs Wnlch WI!
not spoii so easily as fertile eggs
the s is No danger of growth taking
nIace in such eggs, since there is no
| life inside to develop. Hence, neat
will not have the effect on them that
it will on fertile eggs, and they wiz
therefore, keep better at this season
than will fertile eggs.
Producing clean eggs will also nelp
to have eggs of good quallty' ~"
will eliminate the necessity OF WASH
inc then, to make them look cream.
Washing eggs rubs on the po"ust'
coating that the hen put there TO pre-
cent the evaporation of the water
content. BY washing them, TINS SUI =
stance is removed, permitting OF rap, s,.
Evaporation, especially IN warm
weather. thereby causing a shrim n1
age" and a consequent loss in quai-
ify. Providing clean nesting ma, ma
terial. such as shavings or cream ~
straw with a sufficient number Oh
nests so the birds will not have 10 las
on the f1oor-one nest for every nve
birds in the pen-and collecting esgs
at least once every day Will neip con,
siderably to produce clean ess1'
Where the floor is covered with clean
straw. the hens. even on rainy oays'
when their feet get wet and muau o;s
sort of clear off the mud, upon en .,.
inc the poultry house. by "a pa,,Is
thrrough the straw to the nests; t., F ,esan
nv wire under the perches win kee ee
the hens from getting the dr S,i ~ riiI
and and scratching them over. TINS TINS WILL
also help to produce clean eggs.
The lob is not finished when Iv eSgo
Summer days require that esss vt
49, q. +ha coolest and dryest spos