336 ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION 
4. To trim the lamp, take it from the machine and lower the 
wick to prevent smoking. Do not cut the wick with scissors 
except once in three or four days, then most of the charred por- 
tion can be cut off. Each time the lamp is filled, scrape off the 
charred portion of wick with a small piece of wood or match. 
This is best accomplished by turning the wick high enough to 
bring the charred portion above the wick guard, then the charred 
end can be quickly scraped off. When the flame has a tendency 
to point upward at either end, forming a crescent, clip the corner 
slightly; or, if it points up in the middle, trim the centre a little 
lower. The wick guard often becomes bent, and either wider or 
narrower in places, which makes the wick burn unevenly. This 
can be remedied by straightening it. Have a uniform even flame 
with curved top, the centre being a trifle higher than either end. 
5. After filling, any oil on the lamp should be wiped off with 
a cloth. Keep it as clean as possible, and so prevent odor and 
danger of fire. 
6. After lighting the lamp, put it in the machine and turn it 
low for about five minutes, after which the wick may be raised 
as high as desirable. If turned high at once, the flame may flare 
up, and the lamp smoke. 
7. Leave the flame so low that there can be no danger of smoke. 
The wick should be large enough to furnish the necessary heat 
without having to burn at a dangerous height. This should be 
borne in mind when selecting the machine. 
8. In regulating the temperature, the best method is to keep 
the lamp wick always at the same height, and regulate it with the 
thumbscrew. An exception to this rule, however, may be made 
on or about the nineteenth day, when, owing to the large amount 
of heat given off by the mature embryo, it may be desirable to 
turn the lamp wick down slightly. 
9. Be sure to place the lamp so that no draft can blow directly 
upon it, as this will make the light flicker or smoke, if it does not 
go out entirely. 
10. The burner box should be kept clean, free from dust, and 
the glass openings as clear as possible. Watch to see that they are 
not broken or removed, in which case the force of the air will 
make the lamp burn poorly. 
Filling the Egg Chamber.—The following points should be 
borne in mind: (1) Avoid subjecting the eggs to a too sudden 
change of temperature by bringing them immediately from a 
