The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-07


 is more apt to be uniform, and the air more or less damp, which will solve the moisture problem to a great extent. The necessity for moisture is apparent in the natural method: The hen if allowed to choose her own location for a nest, will invariably select a spot on the ground where it is moist, and yet well drained.
 The incubator should be made perfect ly level, to insure a uniform distribution of heat, and so situated that it is not in way of direct drafts, nor in close contact with an exposed wall, for the reason that these conditions would im- pose unequal temperatures within the machine. The front of the machine should be kept free for the convenient handling of the trays, also the heater, if it is an oil burning incubator, which will have to be trimmed and filled daily.
 When the machine has been assembled and all parts carefully noted with re- gard to their particular function, It should be started and run empty Tor couple of days, to see that everything IS working properly, and to ascertain Just what adjustment of the lamp and neat regulating device is necessary to smaln- tain the desired temperature. The heat ing apparatus should be capable of bring ing up the temperature of the egg cham Der. at a point two inches above the egg trays to 103 degrees, without the neces- sity for turning up the flame Of the
 lamp to a point where 1t is likely to smoke. The lamp of an incubator IS the one vital feature; it must be kept scru- pulously clean at all times, and trimmed and filled regularly. good plan IS to established a fixed time for this work, and never deviate from it. The best time is in the morning, immediately fol-
 lowing the work of turning the eggs, or while they are cooling; never before unless the operator is careful to wash his hands and remove any trace Of ker- osene before handling the eggs. Then too, when the lamp is trimmed in the morning, there is the daytime in which to ascertain if it is burning properly for, as in all oil lamps, the flame is apt to increase with the heat it radiates. Place the eggs on the trays on their sides never on their ends, and never on top of one another, until the trays are comfortably filled To try and crowd too many eggs on the trays is poor econ omy for it will then be most inconven- tent and troublesome to turn them with out fear of breakage. In removing the trays from the machine, and in replacing them, avoid undue jolting or rough han ding. If. the trays stick or fit too tightly, either plane them off bit or rub the edges with soapstone or similar material that will make them slippery. Tight fitting trays or doors should not be tolerated, because ill forcing them the adjustment of the thermostat-the heat regulating device-is very apt to be thrown out of kelter, not to mention probable damage to the eggs.
 CARE OF THE EGGS
 For the first three days after the eggs have been placed in the machine, they require no attention beyond the daily filling of the lamp. On the evening of the third day the eggs should be turned, doing it as quickly as possible. about five minutes time is correct and thereafter repeating the operation every F hours, night and morning. As the matching ad- vances more time should be taken to the turning, and after the seventh day the eggs should be cooled once a day, preferably in the evening. They should