392 



The Coimtry Gentleman's Magazine 



insure their being kept out of the flower beds 

 and out of the fields of corn. "As the old 

 cock crows, the young one learns," it is 

 said, and we believe it, in a different 

 sense from that in which the proverb 

 is often construed literally. The young 

 roosters and youthful layers, if judiciousness 

 has been exercised in the up-bringing of the 

 parental birds, will not intrude upon ground 

 held sacred by " the ancient parties." They 

 will not trespass upon the gardens nor pick the 

 growing ears of corn. Like a cat (it being 

 presumed that they are always well fed) taught 

 to keep its paws off the pet cage-bird, they 

 will keep their scraping feet from the garden 

 and their beaks from the cereals. 



Having regard to the high price of meat, 

 therefore, we think with this author that 

 poultry production on a much larger, or on 

 a more diffusive scale in this country would 

 •save much money to the consumers and be 

 profitable to the rearers. 



The author has a chapter on artificial 

 hatching as a means to increase the number 

 and value of fowls, from which we extract 



Thick's Machine complete, for loo Eggs. 



the following description of the Incubators 

 of Mr W. H. Thick, London, with engrav- 

 ings as above : — 



These Incubators are constructed with a reservoir 

 holding about lo gallons of water. Heat is supplied by 

 gas or by a paraffin oil lamp — the temperature required 

 for hatching being regularly maintained day and night. 

 Air-canning pipes pass through the heated water, and 

 carry warmed air to all parts of the hatching apparatus, 

 and hot-water boxes form part of the reservoir under 



which the chicks when hatched are placed to receive 

 the heat necessary for their health. The boxes are 

 covered with a lamb-skin, or a " Wool- Mother," 

 against which the chickens nestle their backs, while 

 the cool gravelled flooring affords for their feet a sur- 

 face similar to that which they would have, had they 

 been naturally hatched. It is calculated that if proper 

 attention be paid to the instructions, 70 per cent, at 

 least of strong healthy birds may be hatched out. 

 The drawers of the Incubators should be strewn 



Thick's Machine complete, for 200 Eggs. 



with bran or hay cut into small pieces, but never with 

 sawdust, as the turpentine in the wood tends to destroy 

 the germ in the egg. 



We spread a quantity of hay upon the bottom of 

 the drawers, so as to line them completely ; and we 

 place fifty hens' eggs in each drawer on the hay, and 

 close the drawers. Heat is communicated from the 

 water in the reservoir, the temperature of which must 

 be about 120 deg. Fahr., in order to have the eggs at 

 the required temperature of 102 deg. to 104 deg. 



Twice every day the drawer is opened to turn the 

 eggs, and they are then left exposed to the cooler air 

 of the apartment for a quarter of an hour before being 

 replaced in the machine. When we add that the 

 position of the eggs in the drawer may also be changed 

 three or four times a day, we have given all necessary 

 directions. After an incubation of twenty-one days, 

 the chickens will break their way out of their shells. 

 They are then left for four-and-twenty hours after 

 they are hatched under the " Wool- Mothers," to dry 

 and gain strength. During this time they are better 

 without food, as the nourishment they have taken 

 before breaking the shell is sufficient to serve them for 

 that period. 



The system of chicken-rearing we have described is 

 admirable for the careful observation of natural 

 processes upon which it is based. Nature has been 

 copied with the most perfect tact, and it is owing to 

 the faithful imitation of her operations and conditions 

 that success has been attained. The reservoir with its 

 flannel covering represents the sitting hen, and the 

 heat that proceeds from the reservoir is of the same 



