Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-14

quality Of stock. Now, the novice must
not expect to find 100 fertile eggs for his
s. investment. If he finds fifty or sixty at
this time Of year. he ought to be satisfied.
| While this is well-known to the breeders,
1t is hardly ever understood by the be-
ginner. During winter and early spring,
while stock is confined To their houses,
the male bird is not so vigorous, ana
! hence the fertility Of the egg is less.
When, however later in the season, after
the stock has had the advantage OF an
outdoor run and turned out TO grass, then
the fertility becomes greater and the
matches are necessarily larger.
The most important point in artificial
Matching is the development Of the air
cell. If this is too large, the egg dries up;
If it is too small, the chick cannot turn
itself, and hence dies; in either case, the
egg will not hatch. To control this deYel-
opment needs careful watching, by testing
the eggs frequently. We DO not mean ali
the eggs IN the machine, but say five
taken from different parts OF the tray. II
at the tenth day, for example. the air cell
appears too small, and this can be deter
mined by reference TO the diagrams in the
book Of Instructions, then more air should
be given, either through the ventilators or
by cooling during the day. If it appears
too large, then q little moisture should be
given, by putting water, at a certain tenn
perature, In the pans. In other words, ar
Increases the size Of the air cell and mois-
ture diminishes 1t. Still a great many
good matches are obtained by simply run
ming the machine at the required tempera-
ture for twenty-one days. This is more or
less accidental, however, and the success
can be traced 20 favorable conditions or
the cellar in which the machine Is placed.
More matches are ruined through Curl
osity than in any other way. The novice
must understand that when the chicks be-
gin to pip the eggs, the machine must not
De opened. over anxiety Will often induce
one to try to help chick out Of the shell.
Remember that if it cannot kick itself out
alone il Will not, as rule, live TO grow
up, and is not worth helping.
If the directions have been followed,
and the heat IS kept up, the chances for
a good hatch are pretty sure. The great
tendency among beginners is TO blame
the machine for everything that goes
wrong.
OF course, there are on the market to
day more poor incubators than good
ones; but there are enough OF the latter
TO choose from, and when the choice Is
made there IS no doubt about the re-
suit, If properly run.
The fact that there are so many poor,
miserable boxes called incubators Of
fered 10 the public upsets the theory OF
artificial Matching materially Stil 10
made a selection IS an easy matter, ana
should always be done by inquring from
others. who have run this or that MAKE
what success they have had. To buy
machine on paper. as it were, or from
an advertised description, is the worst
way possible, as the most extrayagant
claims are made by all makers, each
trying to Guido the other in print, 10
the confusion of the buyer. Never has
this seemed more prominent than at
the present season; and the surest way
to make a success Of artificial Matching Is
10 select standard make and thea
study 1t. What it has done for others II
can do for you.