Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1918 — MARKETING EGGS BY PARCELPOST [ARTICLE]

MARKETING EGGS BY PARCELPOST

Uncle Sam Assists Producers in Developing Special Trade in Towns and Cities. NON-FERTILE KINDFAVORED Small Flock Owners Can Advantage-, ously Utilize Mail Service in Getting Produce to ConsumersUse 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-| during territory will continue to be shipped by other methods, city trade can be supplied with a 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 a means of solving his egg-selling problems. This applies especially to the man whoso 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 under proper sanitary conditions and supplied with sound, wholesome feed. If possible, only non-fertile eggs Should be produced for market; fertile eggs deteriorate rapidly and are the cause of much loss. The nests should be clean and so that the eggs will not be soiled. The eggs should be gathered at least once a day and stored in a well-ventilated place where they can be kept 'as cool a* possible. As washing removes the mucilaginous coating ,of eggs and 'opens the pores of the shell it should never be practiced in the case of eggs intended for high-class trade. Soiled eggs should be used at home or disposed of otherwise than to a parcel post customer. Every egg which is shipped by mall should be previously candlfed so that all eggs which show any defect may be held at home. For parcel post shipment it is essential that uniform containers and a 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 containers should be stout and durable so as'to make it worth while to refurn them as "empties” for subsequent use. The ideal container is simple in construction, efficient in service and cheap. It must not cost too much and it-must be serviceable enough to be used several times. ; / How to Pack Eggs. According to the post office regulations eggs will be accepted for local delivery when they are so packed in a basket or other container as to prevent damage to other mall 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 excelsior, dbtton 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 escape from the package. All such parcels must be labeled “Eggs.” Eggs In parcels weighing more than 20 pounds are accepted for mailing tb offices in the first and second zones when packed in crates, boxes, buckets or other containers having tight bottoms, to prevent the escape of anything from the package and so constructed as properly to protect the contents. Such packages must be marked “Eggs—This Side Up," and must be transported outside of mail sacks or boxes. It is advisable that square-block tissue paper which comes tn packages of 600 sheets each, soft wrapping paper, or newspaper should be used around each egg, as otherwise there is a danger of breakage in handling. Average !,««• eggs will weigh about two ounce.

apiece or between two and three pounds a dozen when properly packed for mailing in a carton. Most parcels containing a dozen eggs will exceed two pounds, but will not reach three; therefore, the postage on them will be 7 cents within the first and second, zones or 150-mile limit. A parcel containing two dozen eggs will add perhaps 2 cents to the postage, though sometimes only 1 cent,, depending on the character of the container and wrapper.

Ship Large-Size Packages. The larger the’parcel, within the size and weight limits, the cheaper is the postage, as the first pound of every ackage costs 5 cents within the first and second zones, while each additional pound, up to 50, costs but 1 cent; so that while a one-pound parcel would cost 5 cents postage, a two-pound parcel would cost only 6 cents, or. 3 cents a pound. A 20-pound parcel would cost 24 cents and a 50-pound parcel wpulji cost 54 cents, or but 1.08 cents per pound. ' • X,. jßlfty pounds is the weight limit for local delivery, the rates being 5 cents for the first pound and 1 cent additional for each two pounds and fraction thereof. Similarly the weight limit within the first and second zones is 50 pounds. A sirtfple rule to determine the postage on any parcel not going beyond the second zone is to add four to the number of pounds, and the resulting number is the postage required in cents. The measurement limit on parcel post matter is that the girth and the length added must not exceed 84 inches. For example, a parcel 12 inches square (48 Inches around) and 36 inches long would be just up to the limit, as would also a parcel 15 Inches square (60 inches around) and 24 inches long. \ Marketing Costs by Mail Service. The expenses of marketing eggs by parcel post where two-dozen-size egg containers are used are as follows: For container and wrapping, 8 cents; for .postage, 9 cents, or a total of 17 cents, which would be 8% cents a dozen marketing cost. Marketing a 54dozen parcel would cost about 13 cents for container and wrapping and 14 cents for postage, or a total of 27 cents; a ten-dozen lot would cost about 22 cents for container and wrapping and 25 cents postage, or a total of 47 cents. The current costs would exceed the above figures, which held true before the war. The farm flock owner who desires to utilize the parcel post as an aid to direct dealing with city consumers should emphasize the use of attractive packages as well as punctuality in shipment, so that the eggs will arrive on schedule at the purchaser’s home. The farmer can develop a city trade *by means of advertisements in a city or town paper, by personal canvass or through the assistance of the city postmasters who have issued lists of consumers who desire to buy eggs directly in the country. The reputation which a parcel post shipper makes with his first customer will very largely determine his success or failure in market-ing-by this method, and hence the new shipper should strive to satisfy his initial trade. "