38 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY. 



cleansing be neglectf-d fo? more than a couple of days after a 

 breakage, or less at the latter period of incubation, probably 

 not a single chick will be obtained ; whether from the pores of 

 the shell being stopped by the viscid matter, or from the noxious 

 smell of the putrefying egg, it is not very material to inquire. 



Every egg should also be marked quite round with ink or 

 pencil, so that if any be subsequently laid in the nest they 

 may be at once detected and removed. Hens will sometimes 

 lay several eggs after beginning to sit. 



In ordinary winters the hen should be set as in summer, 

 giving her, however, rather more straw. Only in severe frost 

 should she be brought into the house ; and in that case, or 

 whenever the weather be very dry, it will be necessary during 

 the last half of the hatching period to sprinkle the eggs freely 

 with tepid water once a day, removing the hen for the purpose, 

 and replacing her at once. Of course this is always necessary 

 to success, in dry weather at least, when the hen is set in a 

 box at a distance from the ground, as is the case in large 

 sitting-houses. But, where it can be had, we much prefer the 

 natural moisture of a damp soil, which may often be supple- 

 mented by pouring warm water on the ground freely, round 

 the nest, several times a week. The application of water 

 must therefore depend upon the weather and common sense. 

 In damp springs none is needed ; in dry times, more or less 

 according to circumstances. 



\Vhenthenumberof eggs set yearly is considerable, it is 

 worth while to withdraw the unfertile ones at an early period. 

 About the eighth day let the hen be removed by candle-lights 

 and each egg be held between the eye and the light. If the 

 egg be fertile, it will appear opaque, or dark all over, except, 

 perhaps, a small portion towards the top ; but if it be unim- 

 pregnated, it will be still translucent, the light passing through 

 it almost as if new laid (Fig. 8). After some experience, 

 and by using one of the various " egg-testers " sold for the 



