48 



PROFITS IN POULTRY. 



Fig. 30. The egg is so held that the hand cuts off all 

 direct rays of light from the eye, except those passing 

 through the egg. The egg may be 

 held toward the sun, or, better, tow- 

 ard the light from a lighted candle 

 or lamp in a dark room. Egg-test- 

 ers are made in which more than one 

 egg may be examined at once. A 

 small box, either of wood or paste- 

 board, is used, with a number of 

 " egg-holes" cut in the cover. A 

 mirror is placed within, set at a 

 slant towards one side of the box, 

 which is cut away for observation. If the interior 

 of the box is painted black, the 

 effect will be better. The quality 

 of the eggs is determined by their 

 degree of clearness. A fresh egg 

 ows a clear, reddish, translucent 

 . glit; an egg fit, perhaps, for cook- 

 ing, but not for hatching, a less 

 clear light. 



The accompanying engraving 

 (Fig. 31) represents a contrivance 

 for testing the freshness or fertility 

 of eggs, useful in the household or 

 to the poultry-fancier. It consists 

 of a small handle, with a cup in the I :'S 



end of it; around the cup is fast- | fi 



ened a frame of sheet-tin or stiff | 



card-board. This frame has a hole rTi 



in the center, of the shape and size \g$ 



of an egg, and a strip of black Fig. 31. 



ribbon or cloth is fastened around 

 the frame, projecting a little beyond the inner edge. 

 To test the egg, it is placed in the cup, so as to fill 



