HATCHING BY STEAM EGGS, FEATHERS, &C. 59 



every year to sit. In some years, when I have wanted 

 sitting hens for some experiments, I have had the 

 mortification not to find above four such, among fifty 

 or sixty of them : complaints of hens that refuse to sit, 

 are very common in this country (France), and I think 

 in general, that it seldom happens that the third or even 

 the fourth part of them are so disposed. Beside this, they 

 are not always willing to sit at those times when we wish 

 they would, which is in part the reason why the early 

 chickens are dear a great while, and why we have not 

 every year a supply of them as early as we wish for it." 

 Hatching by steam succeeded ; and about the year 

 1823, various attempts were made at Bath and in Lon- 

 don, to bring artificial hatching into use. I had a letter 

 from the Bath experimenter, and with respect to the 

 Londoner he exhibited his practice at one shilling each 

 person, which in course I attended. Some trials have 

 been since made and published, but the plan has not 

 yet been perfected to the degree of public utility, either 

 here or in France. It may be that an Egyptian climate 

 is indispensable for its successful completion. 



EGGS, FEATHERS, &C. 



EGGS become desiccated, and, in consequence, lose 

 great part of their substance and nutritive quality by 

 keeping, and every body knows the value of a fresh- 

 laid egg. They will retain their moisture and goodness, 

 however, three or four months, or more, if the pores 

 of the shell be closed, and rendered impervious to the 

 air by some unctuous application. We generally anoint 

 them with mutton suet melted, and set them on end, 

 wedged close together, in bran, stratum super stratum, 



D6 



