Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-11-24

of the Fancier's JournM gives the follow
ing very sensible advice to beginners in
breeding poultry:
Consult your own f,ncv in regard to
what variety of fowls, pigeons, rabbits,
etc. that you will keep. and do not be in
luenccd in this matter by any one; which
ever breed OF variety you fancy is the one
YOU will best succeed with. Keep but one
breed and tndeavor by close attention
and careful study to bring it rs near per
lection rs possible Remember that eXhi-
h. ton of prize birds will not always pro-
ducc premium birds. If You begin with
fowls OF adult stock Of any kind. get some
reliable man who is acquainted with the
variety YOU wish to breed, to select and
mate vour fowls for you. Some novices
will 90 in'o II show room. and purchase a
first premium trio of fowls, regardless of
cost. Such birds often breed nothing but
trash they not being properly mated. If
YOU commence by buying eggs, order them
from a reliable breeder, of whom there are
many who ADVERTISE If YOU are afraid of
the perils incident to = long journey by ex
press purchase of some breeder near voul'
own locality. This, however. is Il matter
of small Importance, if the eggs be fresh
and fertile Always have Your setting
| hens ready, and accustomed to their nests
by the time the eggs arrive. If it is nee
essary to remove a hen from one nest to
another. do SO ut night rather than in the
dav-time as she will be more likely to stick
to her new nest. In warm weather make
the nest on the ground. Sprinkle flour OF
sulphur over and around Your setting hens
to keep them free from vcrmin. RutllC
their feathers and their backs. and du>1
them thoroughly. Never grease 4 hen
while she is setting; if You do, not Il chcl
will YOU get. If convenient, provide {;
small yard for your hens to dust and exe:.
else themselves in; keep corn and water
constantly 10y them; watch them clo~el
for the first seven days, and See that thcv
do not remain off too long. \ hen shout,
not stay off from her eggs longer than lit
teen or twenty minutes in moderately col,
weather. After your hen has been Sctin-
eight or ten days. 20 to her At night will
a strong light, and examine the eggs, ant
{ remove the unfertle ones; these You cal
easily discern by holding them up brfor,
the light in the following manner: lIol,
i, tie cgg in the right hand. small end down
between the thumb and toreingcr nov
place the little finger of the left hanC
across the top OF middle Of The large enc
OF the cog, close the lett hand SNThtlY II
such Il way as to shade the eyes, and throw
the light into the egg; hold the egg a LITTLE
below. rather than on Il level with tn,
blaze Of the lamp. Those eggs having
chicks in them will appear quite dark, cN
ccpt n small portion near the top Tho>'
that are unfrrtiie will appear quite clear
like new-ltid eggs. and should be remove,
at once, rs they generate gases which offer
causes them to burst. and smearing tn,
good eggs, sometimes spoil> the whole
nest \ little practice will enable the nov
ice to detect the fertile from the unftril,
ones hv the tenth day. With Leghorl
and Spanish eggs. the difference can Il
seen much sooner than with the eggs @
Brahma> or Cochins. rs the eggs of til,
two latter arc much thicker and darker
An expert can detect the untcrtile eggs Il
early us the fifth or sixth day.