192 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. tiii. 



is only to produce eggs, it can be attained 

 without the company of the cock. 



If eggs be held up to the light, there will 

 be seen in the yolk of those which have been 

 impregnated, a small cord of whitish film, 

 which is the germ of life, and which, if not 

 prevented by all contact with the air, after 

 a short time dies, and occasions putrefaction ; 

 but those eggs which have not been impreg- 

 nated do not contain that film, and are called 

 " clear." They are therefore generally con- 

 sidered as being less subject to decay, and 

 are, by many persons, thought to be more 

 delicate. There are, however, others who 

 scout the idea of either earlier decay or 

 greater delicacy ; though certainly, the film, 

 small as it may be, is not an agreeable 

 appendage to the yolk. Those who prefer 

 clear eggs, should, therefore, separate the hens 

 from the cock at least a couple of months 

 previous to any intention of preserving the 

 eggs during the winter. 



It would be unpardonable to close this 

 chapter without adverting to the singular 

 notion still entertained by many village gos- 

 sips, that cocks sometimes lay eggs ; and that 



