THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 177 



Mr. BABCOCK, New-Haven, Conn., sent us twelve Muscovy duck eggs 

 packed in nearly the same manner as described, which were set under a 

 barn-yard hen ; the eggs becoming chilled they did not hatch, but on being 

 broken we found eight of the twelve had dead ducks nearly fully matured 

 in them. We have, therefore, no hesitancy in recommending to those de- 

 siring eggs for incubation, to request that they be packed in the manner 

 here described, and in no other way, as we believe more than one-half the 

 complaints that arise about the unfertility of eggs, can be traced to no 

 other cause than the careless, bungling and improper manner in which they 

 are packed and shipped. 



A WORD ABOUT PACKING BOXES. 



We have used and seen a great many packing boxes, but think the one 

 we here describe, (and which is not patented,) is one of the very best, and 

 which received the premium at the annual exhibition of the New-York 

 State Poultry Society. This box is intended for the transportation of eggs 

 of fancy fowls desired for hatching purposes. It is described as follows : 

 It is a box made of pine wood, dove-tailed together, ten and three-eighth 

 inches long, eight and two-eighth inches wide, and six inches in hight, con- 

 taining twelve compartments of wood, which are fastened together so that 

 they can be pulled all out at once. These compartments are two inches wide, 

 and nearly the depth of the box. To pack the eggs you pull out the inner 

 boxes, and place bran, cut hay or any other soft substance in the bottom, and 

 then replace your box compartments ; then roll your eggs in soft white tissue 

 or tea-paper, wide enough so that when you turn down the ends they will 

 lap over each other, and so doubly protect the ends of the eggs, and then 

 wrap them in newspaper, so as to make almost a small square bundle, folding 

 the ends over nicely. Then place this, with the large end of the egg down- 

 wards, in the several compartments, until they are all filled. Then place the 

 bran in around the edges or open spaces, so that the egg cannot move, and 

 fill the top up with bran. Place on the cover, which slides into a groove on 

 either side of the box, and screw the end down with one screw, so that the 

 cover will not slide off. Then place your box in as many newspapers as you 

 may think proper for the distance it is to go, and cover the whole with a 

 covering of thick hardware paper, and tie with a strong thick twine, for a 

 handle. 



MODE OF PACKING EGGS FOR MARKET. 



As we have given a description and manner of making boxes for the 

 transportation of eggs, for hatching purposes, we now propose to give a 

 description and engravings of two new and useful inventions, by which eggs 

 may be carried any required distance with perfect safety, at all seasons of the 

 year, without loss from breakage or heating. By this arrangement the 

 present system of packing eggs in barrels, or other packages, by the use of 

 oats, chaff or other material is entirely abandoned. 



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