88 FARMING FOR LADIES. [cHAP. i\. 



others. No exact calculation can, therefore, 

 be made of the number ; but, generally speak- 

 ing, at least ten to twelve, or fourteen dozen 

 of eggs a year may be counted upon ; be- 

 sides, if the hens be very prolific, their 

 each bringing up a brood, and sometimes 

 even two broods of chickens. The time of 

 their beginning to lay depends much on the 

 state of the weather, and seldom commences 

 in this country before the latter end of 

 February, though in the warmer regions of 

 the south of Europe it is earlier, and in the 

 torrid temperature of the East and West In- 

 dies there is no distinction of season : nature 

 providently teaching that were hens to hatch 

 chickens in the winter of this northern climate, 

 its cold would cause the brood to perish. 



After the hen has layed from a dozen to 

 twenty, or perhaps thirty eggs, good sitters 

 show an inclination to commence hatching, 

 and while sitting on their eggs for that pur- 

 pose, their laying ceases ; but they recom- 

 mence during the summer when the chickens 

 have been reared ; and, if allowed, would 

 then hatch another brood. This, however, 

 should never be permitted later than the end 



