CHAP. IV.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 115 



[juently happens that some of the eggs are to 

 all appearance bad — to be certain of which 

 they are placed in warm water, in the presump- 

 tion that, if good, the chick will then pro- 

 bably begin to peck ; and as instances occa- 

 sionally occur of their coming to life and 

 thriving, this is often done : but more gene- 

 rally those eggs are addled, and only fit to be 

 thrown away. In like manner, it has been 

 asserted that the eggs should be immersed an 

 hour or two in cold water — in order to bring 

 their hatching to an equal period ; but it is an 

 ignorant prejudice. 



A practice also prevails among some breed- 

 ers of putting those eggs which are intended 

 for hatching, into a tub of water, in order to 

 see whether they sink or swim, and rejecting 

 those which remain on the surface. But this, 

 however specious, may lead one into error, for 

 those which are so light as to swim on the 

 water may yet have been duly impregnated ; 

 whereas those which sink may not have had 

 any communication with a cock, and therefore 

 will not produce a chicken : but the heaviest 

 are the best. 



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