60 HATCHING. 



like life she necessarily leads, as little irksome 

 as possible. 



The house and yard must be tenanted by 

 sitters alone, and kept scrupulously clean, the 

 dust-bath full, and a daily supply of garden pro- 

 duce, fresh water, and as much grain, and soft 

 food, as the hen can eat, supplied during the 

 half-hour allowed her for exercise. 



The birds should be taken off their nests 

 simultaneously, and put into the yard, the atten- 

 dant, (meanwhile), examining the eggs to see if 

 any are broken. If any such there be, they must 

 be removed, and the remaining eggs, when soiled, 

 wiped with a damp clotL The eggs in each nest 

 should then be sprinkled with water, either by 

 the hand or with a small flat brush, which 

 answers the purpose admirably, as it does not 

 distribute the water too freely. The floor of the 

 house must be swept every dsy, and, in warm 

 weather, have a little flour of sulphur scattered 

 over it. 



Hens usually return, quietly, and of their own 

 accord, to their nests. If refractory, however, 

 they must be lifted on, the panels closed, and 



