1380 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



the incubator thermometer varies, the amount of variation may be marked 

 on the back of the thennometer, or on a tag tied to it, and the machine 

 run accordingly. If the difference is great, the thermometer should be 

 returned to the company that furnished it. 



Should the mercury become separated, it may usually be brought to- 

 gether by swinging the bulb downward quickly, or by running the tem- 

 perature up several degrees above the point indicated by the separated 

 merctiry. , 



INCUBATOR CELLARS 



An ideal incubator cellar is a very valuable factor on a large poultry 

 farm, or in case enough eggs are to be incubated each year to make it 

 necessary to operate several machines. Otherwise, a clean, well-ventilated 

 dwelling-house cellar, or other room, with proper precautions may be used. 

 If a cellar originally designed for other purposes is available it should 

 be thoroughly cleaned. Good ventilation should be provided, and it may 

 be obtained by opening the. windows and placing a thin muslin curtain 

 over each opening. There should be at least two wdndows arranged in 

 this manner even when only one machine is operated. In very cold 

 weather the windows may be partly closed, especially on cold nights. 



When a cellar is not available, a room above ground may be used, but 

 the best conditions for successful artificial incubation prevail in a room 

 that is partly under ground. There it is easier to keep an even tempera- 

 ture and to retain moisture. 



If possible, incubators should be operated in a building used for no 

 other purpose. 



Location. — If a cellar is to be built especially for the incubators, a site 

 should be chosen far enough from the other buildings to avoid great loss 

 from fire in case of accident, but not so far away that it would be incon- 

 venient to reach. Sloping ground presents an ideal condition. The build- 



^ ing may then be erected parallel with 



the slope, having one end of the incu- 

 bator room in the slope almost entirely 

 below ground, the other end coining out 

 above ground, or nearly so, thereby 

 making it possible to secure good air and 

 drainage. This is shown in Fig. 24. 

 The building. — A high ceiling is es- 

 •ijfc. pccially beneficial. A room ten feet 



Fig. 24.-^ good location for an incu- j^igh and with a distance of seven feet 

 oator cellar 



from the floor to the bottom of the 



windows is very satisfactory. If properly placed, windows are not 



at all objectionable in an incubator cellar. If hinged at the bottom they 



