MY WN EXPERIENCE. 206 



My metliod of packing is to put each egg 

 upright (previously wrapped in strong paper) in 

 a little nest, as it were, of hay, tightly com- 

 pressed; they are placed as closely as possible in 

 the hamper; on the top is a layer of hay, and 

 paper over all; with a packing-needle and twine 

 the lid is then fastened down. 



Some use wooden boxes, and pack the eggs in 

 sawdust or bran; but I consider the nailing down 

 of the Ud causes a jar which is apt to frac- 

 ture the eggs. I never received a setting, packed 

 in this way, which reached me in perfect pre- 

 servation. 



Eailway officials, moreover, handle boxes much 

 less carefully than the more fragile-looking hamper. 



As soon as eggs for setting are received, they 

 should be put under the hen. I have had com- 

 plaints of the failure of eggs from my yards, 

 which," I have found, were actually allowed 

 to lie in their hamper a fortnight unset; 

 the wonder is that any hatched at aE Often, too, 

 laying hens are allowed access to the sitting hen's 

 nest, and eggs are broken in the struggle which 

 invariably ensues. 



