18 BULLETIN 464, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Thome projects. — Have each pupil learn to apply methods 

 adapted to his needs. Clean nests, frequent collections, and careful 

 handling of eggs, sorting and packing for market are things a boy 

 may grow careless about. Have all plans for incubation made before 

 it is too late to do this well. A few well-selected fowls in a breeding 

 flock may prove the nucleus of pure-bred flocks for the whole com- 

 munity. The lesson taught in figure 10 should be deeply impressed, 

 because the margin of profit is small, usually due to the loss of fertile 

 eggs. While this loss is greater in summer, yet the same principle 

 holds at all seasons. 



This is the month to organize or reorganize a poultry club. Refer 

 to Farmers' Bulletin 562 and address the State leader of club work 

 (at the State college of agriculture), requesting his assistance. 



Exercises. — Demonstrate egg testing. Have pupils practice this 

 first at school and then at home. Have them bring to school sam- 

 ples of eggs which have defects that make them unmarketable. If 

 possible, have some successful poultry breeder give the class a talk 



on these topics. 



LESSON EIGHT. 



SUBJECT: INCUBATION. 



EARLY FEBRUARY. 



Topics for study. — What is the best time for incubation in this 

 district, considering the climate, facilities for brooding, etc. ? What 

 influence has the market on the time for incubation \ What should 

 be known of the breeding stock ? What eggs to discard ? Care of 

 eggs for hatching. Selecting the hen and preparing to set her. 

 The process of setting the hen. How feed and care for the setting 

 hen ? Testing the eggs for fertility about the seventh day. Man- 

 agement during the last three days and bringing off the brood. 



In case any of the pupils are to use an incubator, study its prin- 

 ciples and manner of working. How start the incubator? Tem- 

 perature control, testing the eggs, moisture control, final steps in 

 hatching. How dispose of infertile eggs ? 



References. — Farmers' Bulletins 585; 562, pp. 8-10; 528, p. 8; 287, 

 pp. 27-30; 682. Use State agricultural college bulletins constantly. 

 Commercial houses, noultrv-supply dealers, and others publish much 

 useful material. 



The home projects.— Have the pupils carry out with care Hie best 

 obtainable advice on each step connected with this part of their 

 projects. Incubation is a critical process. It is the opportunity to 

 introduce pure-bred stock. Carelessness during the incubation 

 period endangers the success of the next year of the project. This 

 part of the project should rarely he omitted, although there are 

 circumstances under which it is wise to buy chicks instead of running 

 an incubator. 



