AUG 44 
505 
f rom an unfertile egg than it will from a China 
egg, and yet do people suspect the large pro. 
portion of worthless eggs they are constantly 
putting under hens for hatching? The writer 
is using incubators, and out of 250 eggs over 
30 per cent, are found, after six days’ trial, to 
be unfertile. These eggs have been gathered 
directly from the owners of the hens that laid 
them, and iu each instance were pronounced 
fresh aud just such eggs as they had set. If 
one will keep a strict account with his hens he 
will find that, as a rule, they will not produce 
50 per cent, of chickens from the eggs put 
under them. One great cause of this is that 
there are no chicks in a large percentage of 
the settings. When one considers that just 
about one-half of the hens are wasting their 
time and talents, so to speak, better manage¬ 
ment will suggest the propriety of a little 
learning on this subject aud if one has no 
hens to set now, he should cut this article out 
and read it over when he has need of the in¬ 
formation it contains. 
In selecting eggs for hatching the fresher 
they are the better, and one should avoid all 
eggs out of the ordinary size and shape. A 
very large or double-yelked egg will not hatch 
even the monstrosity that beginners always 
hope for, neither will very round eggs or very 
small ones. See that there is a cock for every 
six or eight hens, and if the range is unlimited 
more are better. When the hen is set, put as 
many eggs under her as she can possibly cover, 
for some will have to come out. Chalk down 
somewhere in sight and as near the nest as 
possible, the date of the seventh day from 
putting the hen on the nest. Now comes the 
trouble—to tell just what is iu an egg it should 
have been twelve hours in perfect rest, so it 
will be necessary to get. up very early in the 
morning, before the hen has ended her night’s 
sleep aud begun to fcuru her eggs with her 
bill, which she does many times a day. From 
its position of rest the egg must be lifted with 
great care and with the same side uppermost 
as in the nest. Place it gently against the 
tester, and if it was a fresh fertilized egg 
when put under the hen. the progress of hatch¬ 
ing will ho well defined. This will bo indica¬ 
ted by the presence of an elongated cloud near 
the bottom of the egg and a dark spot, the 
size of a large pea, near the center. By 
slightly rocking the egg the latter will Hoot 
against the shell so as to be distinctly seen. 
The dark cloud is called "congestion” and the 
dark spot above it is the embryo heart. An 
egg showing these distinctive marks, with any 
kind of decent treatment, is sure to hatch out 
a lively and vigorous chick. The fresh, un¬ 
fertile egg treated iu the same manner, will 
show distinctly the yelk floating near the bot¬ 
tom, aud the other parts will present a pink 
transparency and will be just as good to eat 
as nine-tenths of the eggs to be bought in 
the market. I do not advise soiling such eggs, 
for I cannot sav as to their keeping qualities, 
never having tried one, but I always eat 
them and find them excellent for omelet and 
scrambling. 
We now come to a much harder class of 
eggs to deal with—those that are only partially 
fertilized or have been laid too long. Seven 
days under the hen create in these some fear¬ 
ful changes. The manifestations vary from 
total blackness to light streaks and pretty 
blood veins, which latter, bv the way. are of 
but little value in determining whether the 
egg has a live chick in it or not. With me 
the rule is to reject all eggs that do not show 
the heart,, or black spot, though it is often 
found located in a wrong part of the egg. The 
cloud or “congestion” may he broken iu ap¬ 
pearance or wrongly located and yet the egg 
will produce a chick, but the heart must be 
there. If it has settled to the bottom there is 
little hope of life left in it. The great trouble 
in tes ing eggs correctly is caused by the very 
old ones. The former will often start aud in 
four or flve days reach what we call the 
“dark age.” that is. grow in that time up to 
the ten-day stage of the ordinary egg when 
the chick has grown so much that it clouds 
the egg too much for the light to show through 
it and the tester is of no further value. So 
with the poorly fertilized egg, it starts so 
slowly that at six days it may look like an un¬ 
fertilized egg, while if given two or three 
more days it will display the signs of a fertile 
egg aud iu time pnxiuco a chick, though it is 
usually two or throe days behind those from 
the fresh eggs in hatching and the chick is 
never so vigorous when it first comes. 
Having by this means detected and removed 
all the unfertile eggs ami put the others back 
under the hen, every two or three da vs each 
egg should be subjected to a good sniff with 
the nose when it will be easy to tell if any 
have become rotten, aud all that may have 
dono so should be removed and not be allowed 
to poison the other eggs When so many un¬ 
fertile eggs arc found uuder one hen as not to 
leave enough to make out a setting, other 
fresh eggs can l>e put in their places and 
marked with a pencil so that they too can be 
e x amined at the proper time, and it w ill be 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
necessary to place these last eggs in other 
nests when the hen comes off with the first 
chicks. All of this is some trouble, hut it is a 
saving of just about one-third of the eggs and 
it adds about one-half to the productiveness 
of the hens, and if the chicks are given to a 
few of the hens many of those that have been 
sitting can lie made to begin laying again at 
an early day. 
To make a good contrivance for testing eggs 
is not half so troublesome as most people 
think it is, nor need any money be spent upon 
it. Make the four sides of a box, leaving out 
the ends, large enough to pass over your 
largest oil lamp, Set the box on legs so as to 
allow plenty of air to pass up the lamp chim¬ 
ney or it will smoke. Gut an oblong hole 
two thirds the size of an egg, just opposite 
the flame of the lamp. Tack a piece of black 
velvet around the outer rim of this hole. 
Place the egg against this hole and everything 
in it can be seen with wonderful distinctness. 
There must, of course, be no other light in the 
room while testing the eggs. 
When an incubator is used, if the air bubble 
at the large end of the egg is becoming too 
large, which can readily be detected by use of 
the tester at any stage of the hatching, it is a 
sure sign that the eggs are not getting enough 
moisture, w’hich must be attended to or the 
chicks will become glued to the shell and not 
be able to got out. By breaking a few eggs 
your decisions by the tester can readily be 
verified and it will be found an immensely 
fascinating study. L. s. hardin. 
" CLAIMS OF AN INCUBATOR INVEN¬ 
TOR.” 
Under the above caption in the Rural of 
July 21st, some one, without a name, in Me- 
tuchen, N. J., makes an untruthful attack 
upon my private character. It would not 
interest the public to go over the whole ground 
in this matter, but his communication 
does not redress his fancied or real grievance. 
It is untrue that I claim to be the inventor 
of the machine. When my friend “Casual” 
came to see me, my place and my machine, I 
told him it was an improvement on the Peter 
Sauer’s machine, but I do claim that if suc¬ 
cess he any criterion, then my improvements 
make the machine, for the next one that the 
“civil engineer” superintended the building 
of became an utter failure, and after two sea¬ 
sons’ trial, and the spoiling of bushels of eggs, 
the owner had it reconstructed with my inno¬ 
vations by that “ refractory mechanic.” 
If this mechanic has become refractory that 
is no business of mine, nor is it a reason why I 
should be calumniated by some one who does 
not venture to subscribe his name. 
Since wo made the thing a success I have 
been requested by several joumnlists and 
poultry writers to give it to the public. I am 
not in a state of health or circumstances to 
answ er a hundred or two letters a week, nor 
do l need to advertise for postage stamps: 
hence I have declined to have my name put 
before the public until forced by this anony¬ 
mous malcontent, who knew where to find me 
if I had done him any wrong. G. Thompson. 
(£l)c tKttfijarfr. 
THE NIAGARA GRAPE. 
Please dont’t imagine from theabovehead¬ 
ing that lam going to give a glowing descrip¬ 
tion of this much-talked-of grape, to either 
laud it to the skies, or to belittle it. I have 
never seen one of its vines, or even one of its 
seeds, and I know nothing about it, except 
what I read; but I am satisfied that it is des 
tined to cut a big figure in the world, not so 
much on account of the novelty of the mode of 
its introduction, as that it is to open up to the 
public, especially to those to whom the seeds 
have been distributed by the Rural New- 
Yorker, a now Hue of thought and study. 
Many will doubtless think that, because this 
Ls such a noted fruit, its seedlings will be pretty 
sure to possess some improvement overchance 
seedlings. I will admit that the more perfect 
the fruit from which the seed is taken the bet¬ 
ter the chance of success; but if one calculates 
upon any certainty he will most likely find out 
his mistake, and be the wiser for it hereafter, 
but if it stimulates him to greater exertion on 
a larger scale w ith other noted varieties as 
well as this, there is a chance, even though a 
slight one. that he will be eventually rewarded. 
It is an interesting subject and well worthy 
the attention of the young or the middle-aged. 
It will be likely to lead to much labor of hy¬ 
bridizing, and cross-fertilizing as well as 
ordinary experimenting, which have already 
produced valuable results. s. B. peck. 
Accompanying this article was the follow¬ 
ing uote from Mr. Peck’s daughter. Her sad 
forebodings were, alas! too speedily verified:— 
Muskegon, Mich., July 15th, 1883. 
Editor Rural New-Yorker:— In reply to 
your request my father has written the in¬ 
closed, though too weak to wield the pen legi¬ 
bly, so I have copied it. He is very feeble, 
and probably this will be his last contribution 
to your or any paper. His interest in the 
Rural and in grapes also, is unabated. When 
hardly able to stand out-of-doors, he takes his 
pruning shears and clips off two or three or 
more branches from his vines. He reads much 
of the time during the day, and the Rural is 
one of his favorites. Of course, we hope, he 
may rally, and become comfortable, and re¬ 
main with us yet many months, but we fear 
the worst. 
On asking him what he wishes to say to you 
just now he said: “Apologize for the article 
and tell him how I am. ” millie m. peck. 
SOME OF THE NEWER STRAWBERRIES 
IN MICHIGAN. 
T. T. LYONS. 
The season, so far, has been so cold and wet 
as apparently not merely to delay the ripening 
of strawberries, but, at the same time to 
greatly disarrange their relative seasons of 
maturity. 
Crystal City and Duncan, in previous 
years, have been the first to mature. This 
season Early Canada ripened in advance of all 
others, showing a very fine crop, and ripening 
a few specimens as early as June sixth; while 
Duncan, Duchess and Nieanor only began to 
ripen on or about the 16th to the 18th. 
Big Bob ripened a few specimens about 
June 20, some quite large, and many small 
and imperfect. It is far from firm enough, 
and is too acid. It may improve in a more 
favorable season, otherwise it will surely go 
to the wall. Pistillate. 
Gipsey ripened at the same time. The plant 
is healthy and vigorous; but bears quite sparse¬ 
ly. The fruit is of medium size, sprightly and 
rich in flavor—a fine amateur berry. Pistillate. 
Bockett is a variety that has, in some way, 
come before the public unheralded. It ri¬ 
pened June 20. It is very vigorous—a moder¬ 
ate bearer of sub-acid, sprightly, rich fruit— 
not profitable, but desirable for its superior 
flavor. 
Hathaway’s No. 5. is exceedingly 
vigorous and productive. Pistillate. Fruit 
very large, long, conical, necked, brilliant 
crimson, rather knobby or irregular, spright¬ 
ly subacid, rich. This is a new variety from 
Mr. B. Hathaway, of Michigan, the originator 
of the Bidwell; and it comes from a similar 
parentage. Mr. Hathaway writes me this sea¬ 
son, that in productiveness it greatly excels 
any other variety of his acquaintance. 
I’ri.mo has now ripened its first crap with 
me. It has borne but moderately, aud the 
flavor is rather acid—the result, possibly, of 
the peculiar season. The bloom is “perfect.” 
Jersey Queen is very vigorous; but bears 
lightly. The fruit is large, not bright in 
color, and rather acid. Pistillate. I hope it 
may improve in a more favorable season. 
Orient with me is but moderately vigor¬ 
ous, and bears but lightly. The fruit is large 
and rather acid. “Perfect.” 
Manchester is very vigorous, and bears 
heavily. It ripened here June 26. It gives 
evidence of being, as reported at the East, 
of good, even size and of good color and 
texture to sustain the rough usage incident 
to a market berry. The flavor is rather 
acid, but good. Its worst failing would seem 
to be that it is pistillate. 
Parry is a variety of the origin of which 
we know nothing. The plant is very vigorous, 
bearing a flue crop of rather light-colored, 
large-sized fruit* of mild sub-acid flavor. Al¬ 
though the blossom develops a few anthers, it 
may perhaps be called pistillate. 
Turner’s Beauty and Turner's Favorite 
came to me from different sources; bufvery 
probably they may prove identical. Both are 
quite unproductive, and apparently of little 
value. Both are bisexual. 
Finch’s Prolific is of only moderate 
vigor. It suffered very much more from 
last Winter than Crystal City, Longfellow, or 
Oliver Goldsmith growing in adjacent rows. 
It has yielded but a moderate crop. Fruit 
rather large, bright crimson, firm, sub-acid. 
Bisexual. It ripened about Juue 2T. 
Hathaway's No. 9 is another variety 
of the same parentage as No. 5, of similar 
vigor; but, so far, but moderately produc¬ 
tive. Pistillate. Fruit of medium size, bright 
scarlet; rather acid till fully ripe. Season, 
this year, about June 28. 
Hathaway’s No. 3, is yet another of 
the same lot of seedlings with Nos. 5 and 
p—equally vigorous, aud a heavy bearer. 
Fruit very large, glossy red, rather firm; form 
ovate, pointed and necked. Ripe with the 
above—June 28. This last seems to be inter¬ 
mediate between pistillates and staminates; 
developing hut few anthers. 
Gebhart's Favorite is claimed to be iden¬ 
tical with Oceana Chief, and, so far as my ob¬ 
servation goes, this would seem to be the fact. 
Be this as it may, T am unable to discover any 
special merit in either of them. Both are un¬ 
productive staminates. 
Royal Hautbois is much like Montriel, 
Les Quatre Saisons and Belle Bordelaise—of 
slender habit, very unproductive, and fruit 
very small, soft, pasty. Stnminate. 
Dark Beauty, ripening on June 30, is vig¬ 
orous. but hopelessly unproductive. Staminate. 
Daniel Boone has fruited finely on plants 
of last Spring's setting. This has doubtless 
deferred its time of ripening, which occurred 
about Jnlv 2. It gives indications of great 
productiveness. Fruit of more than medium 
size, dark crimson, glossy, ovate, necked, 
firm, juicy, sub-acid, excellent. I regard it 
as very promising. Pistillate. 
James Vick has only fruited on plants set in 
October last. I will therefore only remark 
that its fruit sets in very large clusters, with 
indications of unusual evenness in size, which, 
I imagine, will be of not more than medium 
size, round and regular in form, dark, glossy, 
crimsou, firm, sub-acid, rich and sprightly in 
flavor. The foliage has much substance, and 
is rich, <lark green, and the piant vigorous. It 
seems to possess many of the characteristics 
of Captain Jack, in both plant and fruit. 
[Captain Jack at the Rural Grounds, tested 
when first introduced, showed little of the 
vigor or hardiness of James Vick. Mr. Hath¬ 
away's new varieties referred to by President 
Lyon were kindly sent to us by the originator 
last Fall. But the plants were so tumbled 
about during the passage from Michigan, 
owing to loose packing, that most of the labels 
were thrown out. Those of No. 5, however, 
were not displaced and of this .we shall 
speak in the Fair No.—E ds. 
THE CHARLES DOWNING IN NORTH¬ 
ERN ILLINOIS. 
I noticed in a late Rural that the Charles 
Downing Strawberry is rated very high being 
placed at the head of the list. Now that may 
be the case in the Rural Grounds, but it is not 
“Out West”—probaby it does not like our 
style. A gentleman who is going into the West- 
ern business of raising fruit visited my fruit 
farm to-day. and among other remarks the 
following were made. 
“ How does the Charles Downing do with 
you?” 
“ It doesn’t do well at all. It is a very shy 
beai'er; it rusts and seems as if it was strug- 
ling for a miserable existence.” 
“But,” said the gentleman. “I see the 
Rural New-Yorker recommends it as the 
very best.” 
“ I know it does, but the soil and climate in 
the East must be different from ours. With 
me ir is one of the very poorest out of nine¬ 
teen different varieties.” 
The above conversation indicates that I 
must differ from the Rural as to the Charles 
# 
Downing. One engaged in fruit raising soon 
becomes very fastidious in his taste. Myself 
and my entire family daring strawberry sea¬ 
son must have for our own eating Miner’s 
Great Prolific, and if we cannot get that, then 
Sharpless. Shall I name the five that do the 
best with me? Miner’s Great Prolific. Cres¬ 
cent. Glendale. Cumberland Triumph and 
Mt. Vernon* These are the standbys. The 
much lauded Bidwells and others must out 
here take a back seat. The Sharpless is a 
grand berry, but too tender in the bud and 
blossom. w. F.c, 
Galena, Ill. 
[Our friend should bear in mind that we 
stated distinctly that it was on Long Island 
and New Jersey where we had seen it, that the 
Charles Downing thrives so well. The straw¬ 
berry is yet to appear that thrives well every¬ 
where.— Eds.] 
Ohio Black-Cap. 
This is a very vigorous grower, making very 
stout canes, from eight to 11 feet in length. 
These canes are on plants set. in the Spring of 
1882. The growth last year was not extra 
large. The laterals were rather late in start¬ 
ing both years. In productiveness, good for 
the first crop; size, large to very large; form, 
round; color, black; season, that of Davidson's 
Thornless. July fifth, this year, which would 
mal e it an early berry. It is apparently rather 
soft for long carriage. This being such a vig¬ 
orous grower, the question as to the benefit of 
pinching off the terminal hud when the cane 
has made a growth of three or four feet, to in¬ 
duce the more vigorous grow th of the later¬ 
als, becomes of importance. Most horticul¬ 
turists for some years past have recommended 
this io be done, claiming that a larger and 
better crop of fruit was the result. While 
