INCUBATION. The brooding of eggs until hatched, is called incubation. When performed by the mother fowl which laid the eggs, or by another fowl, it is natural incubation. Artificial incubation, a term now applied to the hatching of eggs by artificial heat, has long been practiced in Egypt, and some other Oriental countries, and is now extensively applied, in all civilized coun tries, in the hatching of chickens. The success fdl hatching of eggs, either by artificial or natural heat, requires good judgment and careful atten tion to secure good,results. In hatching chickens by the mother hen, she should always have a place by herself, separate and apart from all 'others, and where she Will not be likely to be 'disturbed. The nest should be about fifteen inches square for a' large 'fowl, and if the eggs are to be hatched early in the season, the nest should have well broken, soft straw for the bottom, and this covered with feathers. After the first May, in the North, the bottom of the nest should be placed on an inverted sod, pro perly hollowed, upon which is placed soft, short straw. The nest Should be secluded, and it is better that it covered yard attached, con taining food, water, and a dust• bath. No hen should be allowed more eggs than she can com pletely cover. Early in the season from seven to nine eggs will be all that can be kept uniformly warm. In warm weather a large hen will cover thirteen easily enough. Artificial eggs are some times given for a day or two with a young hen, or until she sits steadily. The hen should leave the nest every day for a short time that the eggs may receive air. Seven or eight days after the hen has commenced sitting, the eggs may be examined with an egg tester, or by standing in a 'rather dark place and holding them up in the partly closed hand against a strong light. The
fertile eggs will have a cloudy appearance. 'Those not fertile should be discarded. In warm 'weather, or if the hen is sitting in a very dry ro place, it is a good plan to sprinkle the eggs lightly with tepid water once a day, during the last four days of incubation. Always set a hen in the evening, and never set one which will leave the nest when you come near, or even if you examine the eggs under her. If the nest becomes verminous, sprinkle sulphur through it, and also on the back of the hen. If a dust bath is allowed, and the nest be sprinkled with sulphur at the time it is made, but little trouble will be experienced with vermin. The food to be given during incubation should be sand, corn, and oats whole, and pure water. Artificial incuba tion is performed by means of a variety of machines patented, and also the provision for' artificial mothers in raising the chicks, the most difficult part of the business. The Egyptian plan was to hatch them in ovens. In France the system of hatching by means of fermenting manure,is still practiced to some extent. Modern ingenuity has devised means to furnish the heat from the top, as is natural, 'the germ of the future chicken floating at the top of the yolk. A per , fect incubator should furnish heat at the top, have means of quickly determining the degree of heat by means of thermometers, and be pro vided with artificial mothers This is simply • a box so contrived as to furnish a retiring place of cotton-wool, down, or other soft substance, that may be kept at a uniform degree of heat, with an enclosed yard, provided with food and water, where the chickens may take exercise.