18 BULLETIN 464, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
The Twine projects. — Have each pupil learn to apply methods 
adapted to his needs. Clean nests, frequent collections, and careful 
handling of eggs, sorting and packing for market are things a boy 
may grow careless about. Ha^-e all plans for incubation made before 
it is too late to do this well. A few well-selected fowls in a breeding 
flock may prove the nucleus of pure-bred flocks for the whole com- 
munity. The lesson taught in figure 10 should be deeply impressed, 
because the margin of profit is small, usually due to the loss of fertile 
eggs. While this loss is greater in summer, yet the same principle 
holds at all seasons. 
This is the month to organize or reorganize a poultry club. Refer 
to Farmers' Bulletin 562 and address the State leader of club work 
(at the State college of agriculture), requesting his assistance. 
Exercises. — Demonstrate egg testing. Have pupils practice this 
first at school and then at home. Have them bring to school sam- 
ples of eggs which have defects that make them unmarketable. If 
possible, have some successful poultry breeder give the class a talk 
on these topics. 
LESSON EIGHT. 
SUBJECT: INCUBATION. 
EARL"? FEBRUARY. 
Topics for study. — What is the best time for incubation in this 
district, considering the climate, facilities for brooding, etc. I What 
influence has the market on the time for incubation 3 What should 
be known of the breeding stock? What eggs to discard? Care of 
eggs for hatching. Selecting the hen and preparing to set her. 
The process of setting the hen. How feed and care for the setting 
hen I Testing the eggs for fertility about the seventh day. Man- 
agement during the last three days and bringing off the brood. 
In case any of the pupils are to use an incubator, study its prin- 
ciples and manner of working. How start the incubator? Tem- 
perature control, testing the eggs, moisture control, final steps in 
hatching. How dispose of infertile eggs ? 
References. — Farmers' Bulletins 585; 562, pp. 8-10: 528, p. 8; 287, 
pp. 27-30; 682. Use State agricultural college bulletins constantly. 
Commercial houses, ooultry-supply dealers, and others publish much 
useful material. 
The hcmn projects. — Have the pupils carry out with care the hest 
obtainable advice od each step connected with this part of their 
projects. Incubation is a critical process. It is the opportunity to 
introduce pure-bred <tock. Carelessness during the incubation 
period endangers the success of the next year of the project. This 
pari of the project should rarely he omitted, although there are 
circumstances under which it i< wise to buy chicks instead of running 
an incubator. 
