POULTRY ON THE GENERAL FARM 
used. The development of the public hatchery would supply 
these other 20 chicks more economically and more certainly 
than the farm incubator, but until that institution becomes 
established the more ambitious farm poultry raisers are jus- 
tified in trying an incubator. 
The best known incubators in the market are the Cyphers, 
the Model and the Prairie State. Cheaper machines are 
liable to do poor work. The following points may help the 
farmer in deciding whether or not to buy an incubator and 
in picking out a good machine. 
The person to run the incubator is the first condition of 
its success. A good incubator requires attention twice a 
day. One person should give this attention, and must give it 
regularly and carefully. The farmer’s wife or some younger 
member of the family can often give more time and interest 
to this work than can the farmer. The likelihood of a per- 
son’s success with artificial hatchers can best be determined 
by himself. 2 
The best location for an incubator is a moderately damp 
cellar. The next choice would be a room in the house away 
from the fire or from windows. Drafts of air blowing on the 
machine are especially to be avoided. Not only do they affect 
the temperature directly, but cause the lamp to burn irregu- 
larly, and this may result in fire. 
The objects in view in building an incubator are: (1) To 
keep the eggs at a proper temperature (103 degrees on a 
level with the top of the eggs). (2) To cause the evaporation 
of moisture from the eggs at a normal rate. (3) To prevent 
the eggs from resting too long in one position. 
The case of the incubator should be built double, or triple- 
walled, to withstand variation in the outside temperature. 
The doors should fit neatly and be made of double glass. 
The lamp should be made of the best material, and the wick 
of sufficient width that the temperature may be maintained 
with a low blaze. The most satisfactory place for the lamp 
is at the end of the machine, outside the case. 
Regulators composed of two metals, such as aluminum and 
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