CARE OF THE LAMP 335 
the sun, for this would materially raise the temperature in the 
machine if permitted for any length of time. 
The best place is a cellar constructed primarily for the running 
‘of an incubator, the requirements having been thoroughly under- 
stood by the designer and builder. 
Care of the Incubator.—The incubator should be kept in per- 
fect order, not only during the time of year when it is being op- 
erated, but when idle as well. It should be carefully inspected 
and overhauled before each period of operating. A few days before 
putting in the eggs, the machine should be started, to test its 
accuracy and see that it is properly adjusted, also that the lamp 
and wick are in good condition, and to dry out the moisture. If 
it has been allowed to stand in a damp cellar, it should be worked 
until the excess moisture has been so dried out that the doors and 
ventilators will open easily. This preparation of the machine is 
essential in order to prevent trouble in the future; it is also impor- 
tant from the standpoint of the amateur, for, by operating it for 
a few days or a week, one becomes familiar with its workings. 
As a rule, the instructions sent out with the incubator should 
be carefully studied, and the machine operated accordingly, at 
least until a better method is evolved. The manufacturer should 
best understand his apparatus, and is the person most interested 
in getting the best results from that particular machine. Caring 
for the incubator is a matter of routine; a plan should be marked 
out and closely adhered to. 
_ Care of the Lamp.—Since the lamp is the source of the heat, 
which is the vital requirement, its workings must be thoroughly 
understood. The following suggestions may be useful: 
1. Trim and fill the lamp at a regular time every day; if this 
is done regularly, it will not be overlooked or forgotten. It should 
never be trimmed or filled just before turning the eggs, because, 
if the hands are oily when handling the eggs, the oil has a tendency 
to fill up the pores and check evaporation and the free passage of air. 
2. Be sure that the lamp is set firmly and properly in the frame 
or standard, and that the burner and chimney flue fit evenly, thus 
preventing danger from smoke and possible fire. If the lamp is 
improperly placed in the machine, it will flicker badly, and may 
give less heat than is required. 
3. Do not fill the lamp too full. Leave a little space at the 
top for air and for the movement of the oil. If too full it will 
flicker and may go out entirely. 
