A BIG SHIPMENT OF EGGS

New Zealand Mail, 15 February 1900, Page 5

A BIG SHIPMENT OF EGGS

The “Australasian” tells of a big shipT e2es made by the Victorian Agricultural Department, The report favs •—Towards the end of October the Agricultural Department exported; for too firms in Melbourne 34,400 dozen.eggs in tHe E.M.S. Himalaya to London. They were gathered here in the season of plenty, and reached England shortly before Christmas, when eggs were scarce. Mr J. Ai. Sinclair, representative in London of the department, reports that the consignment, which was packed in 1701 boxes—the largest shipment which ever left Victoria —arrived in good condition, having Been carried at a temperature of about 36deg. Most of the eggs were packed in pea husks, but as sufficient of that packing material could not be obtained at the time, a number of the boxes were filled with oat husks. Although all the eggs on reaching London had a "fresh appearnce, those packed m the oat husks were found to have a peculiar fl&vour, which was attributed to the packing material, the eggs in the pea husks being all that could be desired. It is stated by the .department that the eggs realised 9s 6d and 10s per “great hundred,” or practically Is a dozen. They were purchased here at about- 6d : per dozen, to which is to be added 3d for packing, freezing, freight, etc., so that there was a fair margin of profit. Next season, if there is a likelihood of eggs, being plentiful and shipments being made, care will be taken to provide a sufficient quantity of pep- busks for packing. The experience gained with this consignment will be serviceable to the department in view of any future shipments. -. -\ k • •