76 POULTRY BREEDING IN 



parallel to the neck of the jar, between which plaster of 

 Paris or cement is poured, which soon gets hard and 

 secures the lid, which prevents the eggs being jolted 

 during transit ; the hole in this cover is to maintain the 

 equilibrium of the air between the two covers and the 

 interior of the jar. The outer cover is formed of the best 

 India-rubber, with a strong ring of the same material, 

 which fits in a groove. The mouth of the jar is four 

 inches in diameter, which allows of quick packing. 



PACKING THE EGGS. 



Place the jars in boiling water for about ten minutes ; 

 then plait a layer of well-dried and warm cocoa-nut 

 refuse on the bottom, and pack the eggs, taking care not 

 to let them come in contact with the sides of the jar ; as 

 soon as the jar is filled, put on the inner cover, and pour 

 some cement or plaster of Paris between the ridge and 

 sides of the jar, then draw an India'-rubber cap over the 

 mouth of the jar, after which it should be immediately 

 withdrawn from the hot water and immersed in cold 

 water, which will condense the rarefied air in the jar, 

 when it will be found that the difference of the atmospheric 

 pressure is at least ten pounds to the square inch, which 

 forces the India-rubber down to the inner cover ; and as 

 long as it remains so it will be a sure index that the jar 

 remains perfectly air-tight. The inner temperature of 

 the jar, although placed in boiling water, will be found 

 not to exceed blood-heat, which being the same at which 

 the eggs come from the hen, they cannot be affected. 



