558 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



tion upon this subject; but a great many farmers do not see these 

 journals or the books. Once let it be known that the operation of an 

 incubator is easy and simple, and once the almost superstitious dread 

 that some people have of taking up something new is overcome, 

 there will be little trouble in teaching the uses and management of 

 the common hatching machine. 



The successful operation of an incubator depends upon accuracy 

 and exactness. Not only should the work be done properly, but it 

 must be done "on time." The woman who fills her lamps at a cer- 

 tain hour of the day, and the man who winds his watch or clock at 

 the same hour every evening, need not fear the task of running an 

 incubator. But unless one is willing to study, to read, and to prac- 

 tice, and is willing to attend to the few wants of his machine at the 

 right time, making a specialty of promptness and punctuality, it will 

 be unreasonable to look for chickens from the best incubator under 

 his management. 



The person who runs an incubator must be clean and careful ; 

 he must be at home with his machine at the same hour every morn- 

 ing and the same hour every evening ; he must learn the peculiarities 

 of ms incubator and carefully follow instructions., For such a per- 

 son the operation of the ordinary hatching machine will be simple 

 and easy enough. With each shipment the manufacturer sends out 

 a book or card of directions. Read this carefully before attempting 

 to set up the machine. Put the parts together in exact accordance 

 with these directions. Count the parts and inspect them carefully; 

 then put them together ; see that the machine stands level ; that the 

 doors open and shut easily; that the regulator is in working order. 



About this time comes the question, Where shall we set this ma- 

 chine? This matter of location is very important. It has much to 

 do with success in hatching. First, it must have some permanency. 

 It must be placed where it will not be disturbed, away from jars and 

 vibrations, out of all drafts or where the breeze can not strike it and 

 where the opening and closing of doors and windows will not affect 

 it. The room occupied must be large enough and have a level floor. 

 One needs room to work about an incubator. It should have a clear 

 space around it, especially in front, and at the lamp end of the ma- 

 chine there should be plenty of room. The apartment should not 

 be damp or dark. A clean, dry, light cellar is excellent for this 

 purpose. Any dry, clean room will do, but, as before stated, drafts 

 or currents of air over or around the machine are very detrimental. 

 There should be no stove or other source of artificial heat in the 

 room occupied by an incubator. The entire room should be clean 

 and free from dust. Some of these items have been mentioned in 

 the preceding lines, but their importance warrants a repetition here. 



Common sense and circumstances will dictate the location of the 

 machine, but the above suggestions will be found worth considering. 

 One ^thing is certain, if the incubator is not afforded proper quar- 

 ters it can hardly be expected to give good results. The room de- 

 cided upon, the machine set up, its parts adjusted, and its level 

 taken, it is now in order to clean, trim, and fill the lamp. The wick 



