60 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 



store them in cake or bread tins with closely fitting 

 covers. Each plan serves to keep the eggs away 

 from the light, which is desirable. It is especially 

 necessary that they be kept in a place which is not at 

 all damp, or they will be likely to be touched with 

 mold. They should not be packed in sawdust. It 

 should not be understood, of course, that eggs kept 

 in a basket on the pantry shelf will not yield any 

 chicks ; the point is simply that eggs properly cared 

 for will give a higher percentage of strong young- 

 sters than those which are neglected. 



It is rather better not to set white and brown 

 shelled eggs together, as the latter have slightly 

 thicker shells, which fact may serve to prolong the 

 hatch. Eggs of uniform size, smooth and without 

 any abnormal features are the ones to select. 



Probably the average amateur will use hens for 

 some years to come. The incubator is a wonderful 

 invention and indispensable on large plants, but the 

 man hatching from fifty to one hundred chicks will 

 doubtless find it an advantage to rely on hens. 

 When a larger number of chickens is desired or 

 when they are wanted very early in the season, the 

 question of investing in an incubator should be 

 seriously considered. 



