344 FARM ANIMALS 
4, Placing the incubator.—The incubator should be 
placed in a sunless room, or any place where the tem- 
perature is equable day and night, or fairly so. This 
should be airy, but sheltered from currents of air. Thus 
a cellar,-an unused room, or a stable, is satisfactory. 
Where the raising of poultry is carried on on a large 
scale, a special incubator cellar or room is built. What- 
ever place is selected, it should not be damp or used as 
a dumping ground of decaying vegetables or filth. The 
whole secret of incubation is to maintain around well- 
fertilized eggs an even temperature and a regular circu- 
lation of sufficient fresh air. The placing of the incuba- 
tor in a well-protected place has much to do with a suc- 
cessful hatch. 
5. Eggs for hatching —Whether the hen or the incu- 
bator is used, choose the right kind of eggs. Not only 
must eggs be fresh, but 
they must contain all 
the elements and germs 
that go toward making 
good, strong chicks. 
Unless they are care- 
fully selected from stock 
birds, kept in such a 
manner as to insure a 
ee certain amount of ani- 
“oy save Bits Stock mal vitality, they can- 
Strong cock at left, but weak, undesirable in- NOt turn out strong, 
sabi hs lusty chicks. Always 
get eggs from the best sources and use eggs that are from 
pure-bred and selected strains. 
6. Trying out the machine.—Before filling the incu- 
bator after purchase or at the beginning of a season, try 
