96 ARTIFICIAL HATCHING. 



chick deficient in strength, in which case 

 assistance may become necessary. 



Hens will sit in this climate twice, and 

 more rarely three times during the summer. 

 Such are indifferent layers, and the propen- 

 sity to sit is so strong, that they will often 

 lay two or three eggs after they have begun 

 to sit. During incubation, it is advised to 

 place sand and food near the hen, although, 

 if your poultry-yard is complete, this will not 

 be necessary. 



Hatching by artificial means has been 

 practised for many hundred years. It is a 

 simple process, requiring only a steady heat 

 of 96 of Fahrenheit, and was doubtless sug- 

 gested by seeing eggs accidentally hatched 

 under a dunghill. There are records that 

 even the heat of the human body has been 

 applied to that purpose. 



In Egypt and China it has long been suc- 

 cessfully practised on a large scale. In the 

 former country it was for a long time con- 

 fined to the priests, who kept their process 

 a secret. On the revival of letters, it was 

 introduced into Europe, but was probably 



