NATURAL INCUBATION. 49 
the space in thecenter of the frame, the edge of thie 
black cloth or ribbon fitting close to the shell. When 
the egg is held close to a bright light, the light passes 
through the egg, and shows a fresh or infertile one 
fo be perfectly clear, while a fertile one that has 
been sat upon, or that has been in the incubator two 
days, will show the embryo, as in the engraving, as a 
dark cloudy spot. Infertile eggs may then be taken 
from the nest or from the incubator on the third to the. 
fifth day. 
CARE OF SITTING HENS. 
March is the month to set hens, for the earlier after 
this they are set, the better the chicks will prove. Of 
course every hen has been set that would stick to her 
nest during the past month ; ‘but as hens must lay out 
their clutches before the sitting fever takes possession 
of them, the larger number will not beready for the nest 
before this month. Sell none but surplus eggs now, but 
crowd the hens by setting all that can be relied upon. 
When it comes to finding them all nests, much discre- 
tion is needed, that confusion does not cause trouble 
and loss. Of course, the simplest way to set them is in 
rows in the hen-house; but the heus will not all remem- 
ber their own nests, and will crowd two or three on one 
nest, leaving their own eggs to become cold and perish. 
It is advisable to set the hens in different rooms and apart 
from one another; but if the nest rows must be used, 
then there must be careful watchfulness. A good rule 
is to keep the windows well darkened, so that the hens 
will not be tempted to leave their nests until noon. 
When you give the other chickens their noonday meal, 
and while they are feeding, go into the hen-house, taxe 
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