commencing the hatch is about to begin. In selecting eggs for incubation, 

 avoid all but those strictly normal, such as thin-shelled, "flat-sided," 

 elongated, covered with lime deposit, ridged and fouled; also eggs below 

 the average size. Experiments with poultry seem to indicate that three or 

 four days are required for the full establishment of the fertility of eggs after 

 the first mating, so it is probably well to avoid those laid within this period. 

 Put fifteen eggs to each nest and place the hen on them gently, prefer- 

 ably at night. 



FEEDING SETTING HENS.— The seven hens started to work, there 

 will follow the regular routine of one daily feed, — from seven to ten o'clock 

 in the morning is a good time, and the time fixed upon should never be 

 changed, — and an occasional dusting with insect powder. Corn or ordi- 

 nary scratch food varied with an occasional bit of lettuce or fresh-cut clover 

 is all that is needed, with plenty of water, sharp grit and charcoal on the 

 side. Lift the hen gently off the nest when the feeding hour arrives by 

 inserting the right hand under her breast, raising that portion of the body 

 slowly from the eggs and eventually grasping her legs between the fingers 

 to prevent breaking of eggs if she be inclined to struggle. Be sure that 

 she does not retain any egg between her thighs as it is likely to fall and 

 break. With the type of nest described in Figure 6 (New Jersey State 

 Game Farm), the hen is placed for feeding in a slatted coop and returned 

 to her nest by hand some twenty or thirty minutes later. The proce- 

 dure wdth the Figure 5 (New York type) is to lift the roof of the coop 

 slightly, take the hen out, place her in the wure run by raising its top, and 

 let down the board forming the door to the coop. The loose slat is pulled 

 to one side, permitting ingress following feeding. Many hens will return 

 to the nests of their own accord. Those that do not are returned within 

 half an hour. The door is placed in position again and all is secure for 

 another twenty -four hours. 



DUST HENS THREE TIMES.— Setting hens are dusted usually 

 three times, the first as heretofore described, the second after they have 

 been on the pheasant eggs ten or twelve days and the third time not less 

 than four days before the hatch is due. So experienced a breeder as Mr. 

 Adam Scott, manager of the Froh-Heim Game and Poultry Yards, on the 

 estate of Mr. Grant B. Schley at Far Hills, New Jersey, omits the last 

 dusting, declaring that he has had young birds killed shortly after hatch- 

 ing as the result of a windpipe clogged with dust inhaled from the body 

 of the foster mother. This, however, is the only report of the sort I have 

 received, and the method described above is quite generally followed. 



PYRETHRUM BEST DUSTER.— Mr. Rogers strongly advises 

 strictly fresh pyrethrum powder and asserts that some of the commercial 



