CHAP, viii.] farmijVG for ladies. 175 



lime-stone gravel should be occasionally 

 strewed in the yard. The interior forms the 

 yelk, or " yolk" — as it is commonly called — 

 surrounded by a white, glairy substance, or 

 albumen, both so well known as to need no 

 further description than that already given 

 of the foetus : but it should be observed, that 

 the idea very generally entertained respecting 

 the albumen not being a nutritious substance 

 is founded in prejudice. 



The weight, number, and quality of eggs 

 vary both according to the age, the breed, 

 and constitution of the hens, and the nature 

 of the food on which they have been nurtured. 

 Those of young pullets are never so heavy 

 during the first year of their laying as when 

 they become hens ; and those of the larger 

 breeds are generally thought to be not so 

 well flavoured as those of a more medium 

 size. Hens of a robust constitution will lay 

 more and better eggs than those which are 

 feeble ; and, above all, the nature and suf- 

 ficiency of the food will, in a great measure, 

 determine the weight and quality of the egg : 

 for if the hens are ill fed, the eggs will be 

 light and the yolk insipid ; but if put into a 



