Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-05-26
Agricultural.


The calculation Of chances is q branch OF
mathematical science. II possible in many
cases to ascertain the exact chance or prob
ability of the happening of an event with
arithmetical precision but no mathematician
has yet been able to compute the chances of
an egg TO turn out live chicken after the
proper period of incubation. Eggs of high
bred fowls of the most approved paternal and
maternal descent, tenderly deposited in skill
fully prepared nests, often fail TO give salts
factory results, whilo the less aristocratic
fowl, content to sit on a plain nest of her
own construction, is blessed with numerous
progeny. Twenty-one days of hens valua-
bic time, in the early spring when eggs of
pleban hens are thirty-fve cents per dozen,
not to mention those of high degree which
are advertised ut So, is too precious to be
wasted in any part. Yet, in spite of all the
accumulated knowledge of this age such
things sometimes occur the sitting hem
oven when supervised and attended by care
full expert not unfrequently turns out rotten
eggs instead of chicks. This unfortunate re-
suit of three weeks of incubation has been
known TO occur when a hen brooded, in
highly finished nest, eggs costing So per
dozen.
We do not so far endorse the doctrine of
total depravity as to accuse the dealer in fancy
fowls of selling unfertilized eggs, SO that
fraudulent chickens might mover betray his
guilt. There is an explanation that compli-
ments the dealer in pure breeds, in the theory
that the lower orders OF any species are the
most prolific. Thus we often observe some
thing wanting in families of wealth and high
culture that is abundantly supplied to the res
idents of shanty. There are those of the
former class who would give a fortune for
one of their own like the half dozen, or more,
that are almost invariably found about each
dwelling of the latter.
But we were about to give bit of expert
ence with a sitting hen, and any reflections
about the failure of eggs tenderly cared for to
produce chickens, are properly no part of the
story. Our hen was large Plymouth Rock,
and the feminine head OF domestic concerns,
acting on her own responsibility, with the as
sistance of two or three immature young
farmers, placed fourteen eggs on loose straw
in the lower half of a -four barrel with the
heavy Plymouth Rock over them. Having
undertaken new business with insufficient
preparatory study, she failed to take into con-
sderation the fact that the heavy Plymouth
Rock in returning to the nest, being obliged
to drop herself down upon the eggs from the
top of the barrel, would be sure to break them
Several days after the situation coming to
the knowledge of her masculine partner the
head of domestic affairs was advised of the
certain consequences. An examination was
had, and as might have been expected, the
larger share of the eggs were missing only
five were found. As no shells or other re-
mains were noticed, it was concluded that the
eggs had been broken by the heavy Plymouth
Rock dropping upon them from the top of
tho barrel, as might have been foreseen was
inevitable, and afterwards eaten or carried
away by rats. 1t was decided to allow the
old hen to spend the remainder of the time
to conclude the period of incubation on the
five eggs and the family settled down to gen.
eral Indifference as to the final result. A few
days later Plymouth Rock was discovered
sitting on another nest and the five eggs
we're cold. The head of domestic affairs
made another examination, and found oil the
missing eggs where they had been jostled
out of the nest and worked down through the
loose straw next to the inner side of the bar
rel. They were restored and the old hen was
placed on her nest again. This time she stuck
to her business until, strangely enough, four
or five chickens were Matched. These were
taken away and put with another hen. As a
few days of her time were not considered of
great value, the Plymouth Rock was allowed
to continue sitting. Newly Matched chickens
were taken from the barrel each day for five
days in succession, when, on the Goth day
from the beginning, oil the eggs of the original
nest with one which had been added, making
fifteen, had turned into lively chickens So
much for eggs that could hatch.