The record-union., 1894-04-19

Not Only Itself But the Breed to
Which it BeIongs-A Fine Breed
The wyandottes.
The choosing and treating of eggs for
setting is a subject of interest in the poul-
try yard. The following, which we find
in the Country Gentleman, written by
Stephen Beale, we quote:
In the choice of eggs for Matching it is
most important that they should be We'll
formed and of the average size. Abnor-
mally large and ill-shaped eggs should
always be rejected, for the former are
usually double-yOlked and the latter
either do not hatch or the chick Is In some
way malformed. The size of the egg
does not determine the size of the chick,
but very small eggs would be equally
unsuitable, so that it is much better to
have eggs of an average size and regular
shape.
There can be little doubt that in order
to obtain strong, hardy chickens it is de-
sirable that the eggs should be fresh.
Every day after an egg is laid the germ
loses something of its vitality, and in
process of time will die. The exact time
for which eggs can be kept and yet pro-
duce chickens has never been determined,
Investigations in this direction. Much
would be found to depend upon the con-
ditiOnS under which they are Kept, and
we believe that they would maintain
their vitality at a low temperature, so
long as not actually frozen, for much
greater period than II there were even
fair amount of heat or great variations.
Yet how long this would be is at present
to some extent conjecture.
That eggs can be easily kept for month
is undoubted. Many have been sent to
America and the percentage of chickens
has been satisfactory, though not nearly
80 good as at home. Two years ago
trial was made by sending eggs to Aus
tralia, but without success. In this case,
however, / think it was due to the fact
that they had to pass through the tropics,
and the germ viSlcle was started into
activity, rather than the time taken on
the journey. If they could have been
carried in a cool place, where the temper
ature was maintained at So TO 40', L am
inclined to think a better result might
have been arrived at. This may be tried,
and / hope will ere long. Some time ago
1 was told that eggs had been success
fully carried from England to 1ndIa, but
have not been able to verify the fact, and
in the absence of clear testimony cannot
accept the statement. When eggs are pro-
duced where they are to be Matched 1t Is
advisable to keep them as short a time as
three days, unless there be some special
reason for doing so.
When keeping eggs, they should be
where the temperature is even and rather
low though not quite down to freezing
point, placing them with the broad end
downward first. and turning every day.
For this purpose either boards perforated
with holes large enough for the eggs to
stand upright, or lattice wirework, are
the most suitable, though they may also
be packed in bran, which is not so good
plan. Considering the large trade done
in eggs for setting, and the long distances
they sometimes travel, 1t is well TO con-
slider the effect of travelling upon eggs.
That they can do so safely is unquestion-
able, for scores of thousands do every
year Many boxes have been introduced
TO this end, IMPLYING the work greatly,
and some of these are excellent, while
others are not nearly so good. Person
ally, prefer baskets to boxes, for there
is less danger of breakage and that jarTing
which displaces the yolk sack and leads
to all sorts OF deformities. A properly
packed basket is springy. which box
can never be. If eggs are packed in soft,
dry moss or hay, and placed in hamper
or basket, they will travel lar and stand
lot of knocking about.
Boxes with wire to hold the eggs should
be avoided, and even those with parti-
tions oil cardboard should have pads of felt
or moss below, the eggs themselves being
wrapped III dry hay or moss. In this
wav iarring can be avoided, and unless
this Is so success cannot be looked for. l
am sure that very many i'll results from
bought eggs are due to the bad methods
of packing adopted. Moreover, all eggs
that are to- be forwarded by rail should
be allowed to stand for twenty-four hours
before they are packed. in order to allow
them 30 become perfectly cool and set,
and the recipient should adopt the same
precaution, for it is expected there will
be some shaking up however carefully
they are packed.
Finally, every egg used for setting, and
placed under a hen or in an incubator
should be clean. If its shell is soiied in
any way, let it pe wiped with damp
cloth, so as to remove every Speck Of
dirt. During the entire process OF lncu-
baton air is passing through the pores OF
the shell, and the presence of dirt may
pollute the air, and even charge 1t with
microbes of disease.
LABEL FRUIT TREES.
1t needs little argument to prove that
frequent additions should be made to the
farm orchard. Ii this is neglected, there
will come time in which all the trees
will have passed their prime. But little
fruit will then be produced, and it will
be several years before young trees can
be brought into full bearing. Therefore
it is we'll, where much is attempted in the
way of fruit-growing, to put out few
trees each year.
Not only should trees be obtained and
set, but they should also be permanently
marked. 1t is always pleasure, and is
sometimes matter OF considerable I'M
portance, to know what varieties have
been planted. But without some perma-
nent record this knowledge cannot be re-
tanned. 1t will not do TO rely upon the
memory. This plan has so often failed
that it may be regarded as useless.
Many, perhaps all, nurserymen who
do large business, attach a label to each
bundle of trees which they send out
Perhaps some label each tree, but others
prefer to put all the trees OF the same
Variety into one bundle and make one
label do for the lot. These labels are
usually of wood, written upon with a
lead pencil, and are fastened TO the trees
with copper wire. If the writing is dis
tinct it will remain legible for from two
to four or i've years, but it gradually dis
appears. In some instances the labels
have been attached to main branches
which, as they have increased IN sIZe
have been cut and seriously injured by
the wire. This evil can be prevented by
placing the wire loosely around side
Shoot, but a much better label can be
made of tin. This material should be
new and bright, rather thin. and should
be cut in strips three-eighths OF an inch
wide at one end, one-eighth Of an inch at
the other, and four or five inches long.
Such scraps can be obtained, at a tritii3g
.oS+ of almost anv tin SlOD. For writing