POULTRY RAISING. 
123 
Having decided where to run the machine, unpack and set it up care¬ 
fully, according to the accompanying directions. Before starting see 
that the machine is level. If the floor is uneven or sloping, block up under 
the legs with pieces of shingle or blocks of wood. Choose a place in 
the room that is free from draughts or sudden gusts of wind which 
may blow the lamp out, or start it smoking. Direct sunlight should 
not fall on the machine for any length of time, yet the room should be 
reasonably well lighted and ventilated. Proper ventilation is necessary 
as the unhatched chick requires air in order to develop properly. 
Use nothing but the best grade of lamp-wicks and oil. Be sure that 
the incubator lamp burns with a flame such as is desired in an ordinary 
house lamp. If the lamp smokes a little at first do not be alarmed, but 
allow it to warm up and dry out. When starting, screw the thermostat 
nut down until the rod almost, but not quite, lifts the damper. In this 
> 
A SUCCESSFUL HATCH AT M. A. C. 
way the risk of breaking the thermometer which usually registers but 
110° F. is avoided. On returning to look at the machine one should find the 
damper raised, if so and the temperature is not up to 100° let it down 
and so on until the machine registers 103° with an ordinary flame. 
The thermometer is a very important part of a machine and should be 
taken to a druggist or some one having correct thermometers and 
tested for accuracy. Although nearly all firms endeavor to sell accurate 
thermometers this precaution will sometimes repay the trouble involved. 
For experimental purposes record the correction at 100°, 103°, 106° F. 
Then, with a corrected thermometer and the machine regulated to 
the proper temperature, put the eggs in, being careful that they are 
moderately warm from having stood in a warm room for an hour at 
least. Careful work is now needed to see that the machine varies as 
little as possible from the proper temperature. A slight variation, how¬ 
ever. is not to be feared unless it is of long duration. Do not throw 
