THE YEAR'S WORK 147 



tains arc used, brush them thoroughly several times 

 a week. 



Dampness and draughts are to be watched for. 

 Dry, cold air is much less to be feared. 



Keep a deep litter on the floor, but fresh enough 

 so that the grain will disappear from sight. Old 

 litter becomes packed down hard. 



MARCH 



This is the hatching month for the amateur. Set 

 the eggs for breeds like the Rocks, Wyandottes, Or- 

 pingtons and Rhode Islands Reds the first of the 

 month. Several weeks later will answer for the 

 smaller breeds like the Leghorns and Anconas. 



When using hens, set several at one time, so that 

 the chicks will come off together, making it pos- 

 sible to double them up and so release some of the 

 hens. 



Even when an incubator is used, it is a good 

 plan to set several hens at the same time. Then 

 the eggs under the hens which test fertile may be 

 used to replace those tested out of the machine. 

 This is the way to make the most of a small in- 

 cubator. 



