TEANSPOETATION OF EGGS. 31 



centage is impregnated. If they are all right a six quart 

 pan is filled with water to the height of the box in which 

 the eggs are to be packed. The bottom of the box is then 

 filled with moss, and the box placed in the pan and filled 

 with water. The moss which we use is that which grows 

 on stones and timbers, in wet places, such as the stones in a 

 brook, or the timbers of an old dam. It may be collected 

 and kept all winter in a damp place in the hatching-house. 

 The bottom of the tin is filled with a piece of this moss, 

 (roots downward,) somewhat depressed in the middle, so 

 that the eggs shall not touch the sides of the box, the 

 moss having previously been well washed to free it from 

 dirt and insects. The rest of the moss to be used in pack- 

 ing must undergo a little more preparation. The green 

 fibres must be cut with a pair of scissors from the roots. 

 Only the green, soft and living fibres are used, and the 

 roots, stems and dead leaves thrown away as useless. This 

 fine moss must then be w^ashed thoroughly. A very con- 

 venient way is to nail wire netting over the open bottom 

 of an old soap box. Cut the moss into this, and dipping 

 it into water, wash thoroughly. By simply lifting your 

 box out of the water, you drain the moss. The eggs are 

 then taken out of the trough, by being brushed with a 

 feather into a spoon. If you wish to number them, fill 

 your glass measure with water, and turn the contents of 

 the spoon into it. When the five . hundred or thousand 

 eggs are measured, pour them into a ladle (small enough 

 to go inside of the packing box), having previously filled 

 the ladle with water; then sink the ladle beneath the 

 water in the packing box, and by gent y tipping and shak- 

 ing it the eggs will fall to the bottom of the box, where 

 they may be spread evenly over the moss with a feather. 

 A layer of prepared moss must then be lightly laid over 

 the eggs, (don't take the box out of the water,) and another 

 five hundred or thousand eggs put in. Then fill the box 



