Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-02-20

osiu hC udt a IISC otloW vi SuD
lion right there, although without the
incubator.
You can run the incubator the full
time without testing out any eggs, of
course and some do this, but it is not a
good plan, as some dead eggs may get
cracked and may not smell we'll. Infer
tile eggs never give that unpleasant odor.
have marked and left unfertile eggs in
the machine through three and four
matches in succession and the result was
that their contents were we'll dried hut
as sweet as ever. People would hesitate
about using the first test incubator
eggs who would buy and cook with stale
case eggs, but l would rather have them.
1t is the dead eggs that cause the trouble
those which have started to grow and
have not had strength enough to con-
tinue.
There is nc need of buying a fancy egg
tester. Get or make a box two feet high
and six to ten inches square. Put the
back on hinges like a door. Saw a three
inch square out of the front, just where
the blaze Of the lamp that you intend TO
use in 1t will come. Tack a piece Of felt
over this hole, having first cut out the
exact shape and size Of a medium sized
egg. This hole should come directly in
front of the lamp blaze. And right here,
perhaps, il would be we'll to say before I
forget it, it is best to have the eggs all
medium size. Very large or very small
eggs are incOnvenient in a tray when
turning, and If they must be used, should
be kept in a tray by themselves.
When the test box is done put the
lamp in and close the door. Handle the
eggs as quickly as possible, passing them
before the opening aud taking out one
tray from the machine at a time. An nm
fertile egg will show, very plainly some
times, the shape of the yolk, and will
always be perfectly clear and about the
color of wax. OF course the appearance
Of any egg is effected by the thickness Of
the shell. In live fertile eggs the dark
spot increases with the time of incu-
baton. At the eighth day, that when |
make my frs, test, there will be a dark
or cloudy line across the egg, ~diagonally.
This line will give the strength of %fcrtili-
~ in the egg. If it is dark and decided.
then the hatch is likely to be a good one;
ii it is dim and cloudy, many cggs will
not get beyond this test, if not already
dead. Often the dark spot Of the germ
will show. If this is perfectly stationary
and does not move as you turn the egg
slowly, it is safe to throw it out. There
is no installing this test in ducks eggs,
for the spot Will swim in the < AS the
duck will in the water.
Mark all doubtful eggs and return
them to the machine. Look tlics,
over III a day or two and, if not changed
remove them. IEcnera.ly make the last
tc>, the 18th or 10Th day, taking out al
eggs that do not show life, and som,
times, If the eggs are cry fertile, | dc
not make this test at all. You can gen
orally tell the percentage of fertile eggs
without testing very well, after Won get
used to the business. When an egg
sounds like a china one when hit agains
another, single it out and hold it brior,
the tester. In nine cases out of ten yrl
VIII hud i, to be dead OF unfcrtilc. Illi
ties, cnules in after the twelfth dav. We,
there il often a difference in the sound o
fresh eggs II is safest not to set an,
that give n sharp china sound when rub
experience, but, pctiiaps, feed and car,
may vary the sound oil the shells il
different nocks; | do not know as to that
II is very good plan TO have two set
Of trays to each machine, removing IN,
eggs t. the ha'ching trays about the lptl
day. In hi, way one SET is always rlcal
for the main time ot the hatch, and III
other st may be cleaned While that on
~ doing duty.
Go visiting when the chicks begin t
'rccp," or go about some task that wi
keep sou away from them. General
the ones that would require help IN get
ing ont OF the shell are not worth say
ing They may l'nRer along for a time
perhaps, but have not the strength an
vitality to carry them through, And 80
need not blame the incubator for this
either, ,ou viii see The same thing
uIo, h.ns ar, uEpl rSIrritllV in coil