The Machine as a Mother. 



43 



In building, one may follow any plan that may be preferred, 

 as it is not necessary to conform to any particular design. 



Have the floor close. 

 This is necessary to 

 make the room warm 

 for keeping the eggs 

 in a uniform tempera- 

 ture ; but do not at- 

 tempt to have any 

 tube for the escape of 

 air. Opening the 

 drawer to turn the eggs provides sufficient ventilation. 



Each tray, Fig. 7, holds about 80 eggs laid in promiscuously, 

 the same as in a nest, making the total number for incubator 

 240 eggs. Fill up the tank with boiling water, but never allow it 

 to remain in the tube on top, as it thus increases pressure ; 

 hence, when the tank is full to top of tube, draw off a gallon 

 of water. Fill it 48 hours before putting eggs in, and have 

 heat up to 115 degrees before they are put in. As the eggs 

 will cool down the heat, do not open the drawer for six hours, 

 when the heat should be 103 degrees, and kept as near to that 

 temperature as possible until the eggs hatch. It is best to 

 run it a few days without eggs, to learn it thoroughly. Place 

 incubator in a place where the temperature does not fall be- 

 low 60 degrees. As it will heat up slowly it will also cooj 

 off slowly. Should it be difficult to heat up, or the eggs 

 be too cool, you can raise or lower the trays, using small 

 strips under them. You can also stop up or open the air 

 tube in the front of the ventilator whenever you desire. 

 When the eggs are put in, the drawer will cool down some. 

 All that is required then is to add a bucket or so of water once 

 or twice a day, in the morning and at night, but be careful 

 about endeavoring to get up heat suddenly, as the heat does 

 not rise for five hours after the additional bucket of water is 

 added. The cool air comes from the ventilator pipe, passing 

 through the muslin bottom of the egg-drawer to the eggs. 



