62 MATCH mo. 



is to be attributed the comparatively successful 

 hatcbing of tbe eggs of wild birds. To foUow 

 tbis as closely as possible, put a tbick fresb-cut 

 turf in tbe nest you are about to prepare for tbe 

 reception of tbe sitting hen. Sprinkle a little 

 sulphur over this, and spread over it straw in 

 summer, hay in winter. I shall suppose that you 

 have eggs ready for setting. They should be 

 thirteen in number, or at most fifteen, if set dur- 

 ing warm weather; in winter, nine eggs are 

 sufiBcient for the very largest hen. 



Before hazarding your (it may be) valuable 

 eggs, be certain that tbe hen is really broody. 

 You may give her one or two worthless eggs as 

 a trial, or, if you are anxious not to lose time, 

 divide your setting between two or more hens, 

 and if one proves truant at the end of a few 

 days, give all to another. 



By setting several hens at tbe same time, 

 you have the great advantage of being able 

 to put all the chickens, as soon as they are 

 hatched, under one, and of adding new comers 

 to her flock. Eggs sometimes hatch irregularly, 

 and unless some such system were established, 



