Poultry Problems and Profits. 



409 



Dr. Richard H. Wood, in Farmers' Bulletin, No. 236, United 

 States Department of Agriculture, says : "The incubator is an 

 important factor in poultry raising. It is a success; it has come 

 to stay; and the time is not far distant when it will be as neces- 

 sary upon every farm as is the plow, the mower or the separator." 



The incubator is not an improvement upon nature. Nature 

 is not to be improved upon. However, it may be said that artific- 

 ial incubation has its advantages. The chicks may be hatched 

 early and be ready to market when prices are good. The pullets 

 mature earlier in the fall and commence laying before winter 

 sets in. The hens, when stopped from sitting, may soon com- 

 mence laying again. 



POULTRY HOUSE AT STATE HOSPITAL AT NEVADA, MO. 



The kind of incubator is all important. As it has to deal 

 with living products, it should be as near perfect as possible. Buy 

 a good incubator or none at all. Dr. Wood, who is quoted else- 

 where in this article, summarizes the good points of an incubator, 

 as follows: "Good material, good workmanship, and adaptability 

 of parts, or such arrangement of the various parts of the machine 

 as shall make it efficient, practical, and convenient, are desirable. 

 Two dead-air spaces, good strong legs, plenty of space in the egg 

 chamber, good windows properly placed, a good thermometer lo- 



