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freshest eggs should be preferred^ for it is much better 

 to keep the hen waiting for the eggs, than the eggs 

 Avaiting for her. Those from a pullet, from one to two 

 years old, matched with a cock of two or three years, 

 will be the surest to produce strong chickens. If tfie 

 eggs are too old, the chickens may not have strength 

 enough to get out of the shell, or if they do, will be 

 feeble, and likely to be trodden on and killed by the 

 hen. One test of eggs is, to put them in a bowl of tepid 

 water, and those that do not sink to the bottom should 

 be rejected. 



In about five days after the hen commences her sit- 

 ting, it is well to examine the eggs in order to see 

 whether they are all good. By holding the egg between 

 the thumb and finger, and looking through it at a strong- 

 light, some wdll be seen to be semi-transparent. Such 

 eggs contain no germ, and will not produce a chicken. 

 They are not spoiled, however, for it is a curious fact 

 that these unimpregnated eggs resist corrupting influen- 

 ces for a much longer time than, those which are fertile. 

 They may therefore be taken out of the nest and used 

 in the family. 



The Nest. — The nest for a sitting hen should be made 

 flat, like a plate, and not hollowing and deep, for there 

 is danger that she may step down upon the eggs and 

 break them, or may crush the chickens as they hatch. 

 It is well, as we have said, to put a little earth below 

 the hay, as it tends to preserve a regular temperature 

 and seems to exert a favorable influence upon the shell. 



If an egg is accidentally broken it should be removed, 

 and if the others have been soiled they maybe carefully 

 washed in warm water, but this must be done with ex- 

 treme tenderness so as not to jar the egg. 



