1 82 Profitable Poultry Keeping. 



prevented, and this led to experiments, which have resulted 

 in machines with continuous burning lamps, but without any 

 of the objectionable features in the incubators of the past. 



The incubators now upon the market, both in England 

 and America, are numerous, and there is? a considerable trade 

 in them. It is not necessary for us to do more than refer 

 to their leading characteristics, and then any of our readers, 

 who may be inclined to invest in a machine, can form 

 their own opinions as to the one most suited to them ; 

 not only so, but, as each maker issues a pamphlet or circular 

 relating to his own machine, very full information can be 

 got out of these. 



We have seen that the great improvement which the hydro- 

 incubators exhibit over the older ones, is in the larger body 

 of water, as this makes the working of the machine a great 

 deal easier, and maintains the temperature much steadier, 

 than in the old machines, where the bulk of water was only 

 one-sixth or one-eighth as great. The chief drawback to the 

 " hydro," is the trouble involved in the partial emptying and 

 refilling of the tank twice a day. In places where there is 

 plenty of hot water at command, or, in a large room specially 

 fitted up for the purpose with hot- water pipes, this is of small 

 moment ; but, with ordinary folks, it means a great deal of 

 labour and trouble. One plan adopted is to have a large tin 

 boiler, holding four gallons of water, standing upon a gas 

 stove on the top of the incubator, in which the water is boiled 

 twice a day, and the water run into the tank direct. Oil 

 stoves have been introduced for the same purpose, where gas 

 is not available ; but, about two years ago, a modification 

 was introduced in the shape of small heating boilers, affixed, 

 by means of a couple of pipes, to the side of the machine as 

 is shown in fig. (8), and so constructed, that the water in the 

 tank can be re-heated twice or thrice a day, without the trouble 

 of emptying and refilling. This is done by the simple process 



