POULTRY FOR PROFIT 57 



without difficulty or discomfort so far as eyesight 

 is concerned. The windows should be provided with 

 shades if the sun is liable to shine directly upon an 

 incubator while it is in operation. 



"It is most important that the floor of the in- 

 cubator house be firm and solid. I prefer an earthen 

 floor, for then whatever is dropped upon such a 

 floor it will not cause a shock to the embryo. It is 

 always advisable to keep as quiet as possible in an 

 incubator house during the time the machines are 

 working, and for that reason a good lock should be 

 fixed upon the door and only the one attendant 

 allowed to go into the house. An incubator may be 

 worked in a spare room of a dwelling house, and 

 I have known several cottagers who have excellent 

 results every season when using them in such 

 places." 



A cellar is generally considered the best place for 

 running an incubator, but it must be dry, as well as 

 well lighted and ventilated. Cement floors are gen- 

 erally preferred to wood or earth, but earth is satis- 

 factory except for the matter of regulating moist- 

 ure. A kitchen is a very poor place for the machine 

 because of the constantly changing temperature. 



Use Good Oil 



Nothing is more certain to spoil a hatch than the 

 use of cheap oil. It is economy to use the best. 

 But the oil can should never be kept in the incuba- 

 tor room, and the eggs should be turned before the 

 lamp is filled lest a minute particle of oil on the 

 fingers touch the egg and kill the embryo. Kero- 

 sene is sure death to the germ. I once lost practi- 

 cally all of a hatch because the box in which the hen 

 was sitting had been soaked with kerosene and not 

 enough dirt put in the bottom to keep the oil from 



