CHAPTER III. 



THE EGGS AND HATCHING APPLIANCES. 



Think nought a trifle, though it small appear, 

 Small sands the mountain, moments make the year. 



Dr. YOUNG (Satire VI., line 205). 



HATCHING BOXES. 



HE boxes for sitting the hens upon phea- 

 sants' eggs are best placed out in the 

 open, and should be bottomless. The 

 proximity of the hen to Mother Earth 

 assimilates her condition more closely to Nature, the 

 great mistress whom we should attempt in all ways to 

 imitate as closely as possible. Boxes should be made 

 of rough unplaned deal, in rows of eight, and arranged 

 in lines one behind the other, four feet apart, to allow 

 the attendants to easily pass along, lift the lids, and 

 examine the inmates. The boxes should slope from 

 back to front, i6in. in height at the back to i2in. in 

 front ; the lid should be watertight, either grooved 

 -and tenoned, or slips of wood nailed over the cracks 

 to keep out rain if more roughly carpentered. They 

 should have two stout iron hinges, and a cross piece 

 of wood nailed across the lid behind the hinges, to 

 catch the back panel when thrown open hastily, and 



