Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-09

washington, May o.-USeIS Ol lA- cubators are given the I.llowing sug- gestions in new free publication of the Department of Agriculture entitl- ed Natural and Artificial Incubation of Hens Eggs," (Farmers' Bulletin Il No. 5S5.),
 See that the incubator is running steadily at the desired temperature before filling with eggs. Do not add fresh eggs. to a tray containing eggs which are undergoing incubation. Turn the eggs twice daily after the second and until the nineteenth day. Cool the eggs once daily, according to the weather from the seventh to the nineteenth day.
 Turn the eggs before caring for the lamps
 Attend to the machine carefully at regular hours.
 Keep the lamp and wick clean. Test the eggs on the seventh and fourteenth days.
 Do not open the machine after the eighteenth day until the chickens are matched.
 In setting up and operating an in- cubator follow the directions of the manufacturer. There are large number of reliable A.merican-made ia- cubators, but the Department cannot recommend any particular kind. It does advise, however, that poultry raisers select an incubator that has already given satisfaction in the vicinity where it is to be used. As the cost of the machine is small con- pared with the eggs it hatches, it is a good investment to get Well-con- structed incubator instead of cheap one, which requires more attention and swears out quicker. The equip ment of most incubatOrs is so sub , ject to change that. particular lamps, regulators, etc., cannot be recom- mended The lamp however, should have a bowl large enough to hold enough oil to burn B hours unde! average weather conditions, should be easy to remove and replace, should set absolutely tight in position, aud be at a convenient height
 Incubators Holding More Eggs Pre- ferable.
 An incubator holding 60 eggs calls for as much time and care as one holding 360, and for ordinary use, a machine of at least 150 eggs capacity seems most satisfactory. On those large farms that use individual-lamp incubators, the machine usually holds from 300 to 400 eggs, and a small machine is sometimes used for pre- liminary test, the eggs being trans ferred to the large incubator after the first or second test. Large ma chimes cost less in proportion to the number of eggs { they hold than smaller ones. However, smaller ma chimes are valuable under special conditions, as. fof preliminary test ing. Eats sfs
 Chickens are Sore even in slzt when they are all matched within q short time of each other than when the incubating period is extended ov9. many weeks. Many poultrymen therefore, believe that it pays to have an incubator large enough to hatch most of their stock in two, ar at most three matches. Much time in tend ing to the incubators and brooiers is saved in this way. A fair estimate for poultry farm is to, have the incubator hold as many eggs as ther, are hens, provided that about one-hal1 of the flock is to be renewed yearly and no outside matching is carried on.
 Well.ventilated Room For incuOator
 A well-ventilated room, which is not subject to great variations 1T temperature, should be selected fol the incubator If built above ground the wall should be double and the entire building insulated. In sec tions that have mild climate machines may be operated in buiid- ings with single walls, but we'll insulated room is always preferable.
 Where only few small machi 1es are used they are generally run 1T a room or cellar of the house. Good , results in matching may be secured ir ) cellars as we'll as in rooms, and these are more commonly used Many o1 , these cellars are provided with some system of ventilation besides win dows, muslin screens on the windows often providing god venotilation with out draft, and keeping the suns iron shining on the machines. Cemen floors are easier to keep clean thar dirt floors. Where the equipment is extensive, a special cellar or house should be provided.
 How to Operate Machine.
 In setting up the machine. get i perfectly level. Do not plane off tht door if it sticks, until the machine has been heated up and thorough! dried. Run the machine at abou 102F. for a day before putting ill thf eogs fterwards do not touch thf regulator for several hours as II take' this time for the machine to com' back to it's regular temperature. The temperature should rema' nearly even. When the bulb Of thu thermometer rests directly on th' eggs the temperature is usually he't