1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
667 
A GOOD INCUBATOR. 
HOW TO CHOOSE AND BUY IT. 
What Is It For? 
The incubation of an egg is a vital 
process, and, like any vital process, re¬ 
quires heat for its support. The heat 
must be uniform. Any attempt to con¬ 
duct it artificially must not depart from 
Nature’s laws. The hen furnishes the 
heat necessary, but nothing' more. 
Hatching under hens does very well 
where only a few chicks are desired, 
but is too slow and, owing to the erratic 
methods of many hens, uncertain a 
method. Where large numbers are de¬ 
sired, hens are out of the question. 
With an incubator, you select your own 
time for setting. It neither breaks the 
eggs, breeds lice, nor tramples the chicks 
to death, and while it is at work, you 
can keep the hen at work producing 
eggs, instead of allowing her to waste 
three months in hatching and rearing a 
brood. Artificial incubation is as far 
ahead of natural as machine is ahead of 
hand work. 
The profits in artificial poultry raising 
far exceed those in any other branch of 
farm industry. Many have made it very 
profitable, othei-s have failed, while 
some are anxious to venture, but having 
heard of the failures, are afraid. It is, 
therefore, important that prospective 
buyers of incubators should be warned 
of the rocks on which they might be 
wrecked. I have no other interests to 
serve, and shall feel amply repaid if I 
can, by what follows, enable the reader 
to make the right selection, as a wrong 
one means a total loss of money, and 
much valuable time and patience. 
The Usual Way of Selecting. 
To the average buyer, choosing an in¬ 
cubator would seem to be a very simple 
matter. After studying the catalogues of 
various makers, and reading the flatter¬ 
ing testimonials, it would appear that 
one is as good as another, and he could 
make no mistake were he to choose 
either. Correspondence with the maker 
brings a reply in which the merits of 
that particular incubator are further 
dilated upon, and contains a guarantee 
reading like this : 
We guarantee our machine to hatch niuety per 
cent of all fresh fertile eggs, and we guarantee 
our regulator to be the best made aud not to vary 
more than a degree and a half throughout the 
entire hatch. 
You believe the makers financially 
responsible, and, as a rule, they are, 
and you order a machine, relying on 
their guarantee. You fill it with fresh, 
fertile eggs, operate it as directed by 
the makers, and hatch, perhaps, 25 per 
cent. Y'ou make several more attempts, 
and find that you cannot exceed this. 
You find the so-called regulator a delu¬ 
sion, and that you must do all the regu¬ 
lating yourself with the lamp. You be¬ 
come disgusted, and, relying on the 
guarantee made you, write them your 
experience, and state that you purpose 
returning the machine, and wish your 
money refunded. They will reply to 
you like this : 
The trouble lies either with the eggs or the 
operator, for, if the eggs are all right, and it is 
operated correctly, it is sure to hatch as we guar¬ 
antee. Should you return it, we must refuse to 
receive it. 
What can you do? If you return it, 
they will refuse to receive it. The rail¬ 
road company will bring it back and 
notify you to this effect, and ask you to 
pay freight charges both ways, and if 
you fail to do this, will sell it for the 
charges. Your loss of time and money 
is of no consequence to them. You be¬ 
come discouraged, perhaps disgusted. 
Others hear of your misfortune, and are 
led to condemn incubators in general. 
What Are the Facts ? 
Now the facts are that, out of 40 dif¬ 
ferent incubators on the market, you 
can count the only good ones on the 
fingers of one hand. The reason that 
these are successful is that they were 
the outgrowth of a necessity. The 
makers, in each instance, have labored 
for years with the various machines 
obtainable, with indifferent results, and 
finally devised machines that embodied 
such laws in their operation as they had 
found to govern successful work. They 
built double cases in such a way as to 
provide nearly perfect insulation of the 
egg chamber from outer atmospheric 
changes and conditions. They devised 
more sensitive and accurate regulators 
to maintain, as nearly as possible, an ex¬ 
act degree of heat in the egg chamber, 
and provided for the necessary supply 
of moisture to be equally distributed to 
all parts of it. But, most important of 
all, they provided for the maintenance 
of a uniform decree of heat in all parts of 
the egg chamber , by the proper conveying 
of the heat current through the heating 
or radiating body. These incubators are 
made to hatch, and do hatch the highest 
attainable percentage, time after time, 
and not merely occasionally, as if by 
accident. 
I have in mind two makers who were 
forced to build machines for their own 
use in self-defense. They knew that 
better results were possible than they 
were able to secure with any machine 
yet made. They had spent many years 
in artificial poultry raising, but were 
handicapped by the unsatisfactory work¬ 
ing of the incubators then made. By 
careful study and much experimenting, 
they arrived at definite conclusions, 
building their machines to conform to 
such requirements as they found neces¬ 
sary, and they have been successful. 
Since then, scientists have taken up the 
subject of incubation for the purpose of 
seeking definite principles, and the re¬ 
sult has been to verify the theories and 
methods of these men in the most im¬ 
portant points. The care with which 
they had worked from cause to effect, 
resulted in, practically, a correct solu¬ 
tion of the problem, although they were 
unable to formulate the exact principles 
that governed it. 
What To Look For. 
In choosing an incubator, keep in mind 
the following points : Beware of makers 
who guarantee any certain per cent of 
hatch ; only those who are making in¬ 
cubators to sell, will do this. The buyer 
might fill a machine with unhatchable 
eggs, or through carelessness or inatten¬ 
tion, ruin good eggs, and the maker, if 
responsible, would be undertaking more 
than he could or should do to take back 
and refund on every machine that failed 
entirely through the fault of the oper¬ 
ator. But the makers of these catch¬ 
penny affairs will very promptly assign 
this as the cause of failure, and though 
it be not the case, you will find it a dif¬ 
ficult matter to prove the contrary. 
Never buy a single-case machine, or a 
double-case that is packed with sawdust 
or cork chips. These absorb and retain 
moisture which affects the temperature. 
A dead-air space, properly constructed, 
is the best insulation. The temperature 
in some makes is regulated by a series 
of levers operated by the thermostat in 
the egg chamber acting on a sliding 
collar on the wick tube, and called a 
lamp-trip; this, at times, causes the 
lamp to smoke. But some of them 
would answer the purpose fairly well 
were it not that the crust that forms on 
the burnt wick attaching itself to the 
wick and tube, causes these collars to 
stick, hence they are uncertain. Further¬ 
more, the thermostat can not be loaded 
with any combination of levers to work; 
it is not powerful enough, and there is 
too much lost motion to make it accu¬ 
rate. There should be some provision 
for cleaning out the heat flues without 
taking the machine apart, as soot will 
accumulate in time, and it must be re¬ 
moved. 
There must be careful protection of 
the woodwork from fire, by asbestos 
around the heat flue, and over the tank. 
The entire top of the tank should be 
covered with it, and the insulation of 
the top should include a dead-air space, 
and no leas than three thicknesses of 
heavy resin paper or felt, and two ot 
more of wood. 
The regulator should be a thermo¬ 
static bar made of such length and 
material as will be the most sensitive, 
and multiply the greatest number of 
times on the escape damper It should 
act on it direct, and not through a series 
of levers Which Cause too much friction; 
The best of them will stand but little 
loading. They are made of various 
combinations of material—brass, steel, 
wood, rubber, and aluminium. Brass 
has. heretofore, been largely used on 
account, of its expansibility, but of late, 
aluminium has been found far prefer¬ 
able, its expansibility beiner double that 
of brass under Bke thermal conditions 
Being more sensitive, it is more prompt 
in its action, and regulates the flow of 
heat through the radiator with much 
greater precision, confining its rise and 
fall to narrower limits. Rubber dies or 
loses its power in about one season, 
otherwise it would answer fairly well. 
Beware of regulators whose action is 
dependent on the expansion of liquids 
Such as alcohol or mercury; they arfe 
absolutely worthless under all oi‘dinary 
conditions. These liquids are very sus¬ 
ceptible to thermal changes, and any 
change in the outer atmosphere, either 
thermal or barometric, affects them, and 
opens or closes the damper, forcing the 
heat in the egg chamber up or down, 
and ruining the hatch. They are the 
most unreliable of all regulators made, 
all claims and guarantees of the makers 
to the contrary notwithstanding. I have 
had them raise the heat in the egg 
chamber eight degrees during a storm 
while the outer fall in temperature was 
25 degrees. 
Some Hints About Hatching. 
In order to do successful hatching, the 
temperature of the egg chamber must 
not only remain constant, but be eqnal 
in all parts of it, throughout the entire 
hatch. Other defects can be easily over¬ 
come, a poor regulator can be replaced 
by a good one ; ventilation and moisture 
are under the control of the operator, 
but this defect is one of principle and 
construction, and nothing short of re¬ 
building it will remedy it. 
You will notice that the makers of 
these cheap egg destroyers say little or 
nothing on this point, and are very care¬ 
ful not to guarantee the very thing you 
must have above all others. If they did, 
they could not attribute its failure to 
the operator or the eergs. Three or four 
thermometers, in different parts of the 
egg tray, would soon establish the fact, 
and it would be susceptible of proof. 
A good incubator, like anything else 
that is made for service, costs more than 
a worthless one. Fine catalogues, with 
fancy lithographic covers, signify noth¬ 
ing as to the merits of the machines they 
represent. When you have made your 
choice, don’t expect too much from the 
best machine, the first hatch or two. 
Follow the maker’s instructions mi¬ 
nutely, and they may exceed your ex¬ 
pectations. But you will have some 
things to learn. Ventilation and moist¬ 
ure are governed, to some extent, in 
their application, by locality. A few 
trials will determine these points, and 
then you will have no trouble. 
Kansas City, Mo. h. e. moss. 
My little boy, five years old, bad a Cough all his 
life. Last winter he took Whooping Cough. I thought 
he could not live. The doctor said his Lungs were 
diseased, and gave him medicine, but it did no good. 
Then I tried Jayne’s Expectorant, and it cured him. 
—L C. RAWLS, Searight Ala., September, 1895. 
If bilious take Jayne’s Rainless Sanative Pills.—Adr 
HORSEMEN 
RECOMMEND 
TUTTLE’S ELIXIR 
Used and Endorsed 
by Adams Ex. Co. 
As a sure, safe and 
speedy cure for Colic, i 
Curb, Splints, Contracted 
and Knotted Cords, Cal- I 
lous of all hinds. Shoe, 
Boils, when first started, 
etc. For Ringbone,! 
Spavins, Cockle Joints, 
etc., nothing else will 1 
give surer or quicker re- ( 
lief. It will locate lame¬ 
ness when applied by re- 1 
maining moist on part 
affected. The rest dries 
out. A few more appli¬ 
cations will cure. 
READ WHAT OTHERS SAY: 
Dear Sir: I have doctored horses for the 
I last 25 years, and I think your Elixir the best 
liniment I have ever used, and I would recorn- 
I mend it to any one. C. M. Gityer, Wolcott, Vt. 
Dear Sir: I had a horse that had two bunches 
on his shoulder, caused by wearing a new collar. 
I Less than one bottle of your Elixir cured it after 
six months’ standing. L. W. Fisher, Wolcott.Vt. 
1 Tuttle’s Family Elixir cures Rheumatism, 
i Sprains, Bruises, Pains, etc. Sample of either 
Elixir sent free for three 2-cent stamps to pay 
1 postage. 60centsbuyseitherElixirofanydrug- 
I gist, or it will be sent direct on receipt of price. 
DIt. S. A. TUTTLE, Sole Proprietor, 
27 K Iieverly Street, BOSTON, MASS. 
THREE YOUNG JERSEY BULLS 
from dams that made 18 lbs. 8 ozs , 17 lbs. 12 
ozs., 24 lbs. 3 07,8. honest printed butter in 7 days 
R F. SHANNON, PITTSBURGH, PA. 
GUERNSEYS. 
Fifty head choice Cows, Heifers 
and Bulls for Sale. 
ELLERSLIE STOCK FARM, 
RHINECLlFF, N. Y. 
CHENANGO VALLEY N T0 Y CK j.av!nvaS- 
burgh, Jr., Proprietor. Dorset Horn, Shropshire and 
ltamboulllet Sheep, Dutch Belted and Jersey cattle; 
also Poland-Chlna, Jersey Red and Suffolk Pigs. 
HIGH-COLORED BUTTER FAT. 
Willswood Herd 
Registered Cuernsey Cattle. 
A few choice Bull Calves at reasonable prices. 
WILLS A. SEWARD, Rudd’s Lake, N. J. 
OLD HOGS, YOUNG HOGS, ’ST.utZ 
from our herd of Poland Chinas. To reduce stock 
before enlarging our swine parlors. High prices, low 
prices; any kind of prices accepted. Write 
F. H. GATES & SONS, Chlttenango, N. T. 
CHESHIRES 
all ages. Pigs in mlrs not akin. Every tenth order 
tilled free. W. K. MandeviLle, Brookton, N. Y. 
POLLY WEAVER 
is a Cheshire brood Sow. and ah extra good one. If 
you Want to know more about her, write to 
R. D. BUTTON, Cottons, N. Y. 
Duroc-jerseys and Poultry "J“or 
fashionable breodlng. C. C. Brawley, New Madison,0. 
400 
8 EIECTED PEKIN DUCKS; extra stock 
Brookside Poultry Farm, Columbus. N. J. 
QrtflO FERRE lr 5 s . Trained Ferrets, that 
are actually worked on Rabbits and 
Rats. Sold cheap. Book ’0 cents. Send for free 
circular. S. & L. FARNSWORTH, New London, O 
LOTS OF £ 
cut bonej cut by the 
Improved ’90 
MANN’S 
CREEN BONE CUTTER 
the standard of the world. 12 
sizes. and up. O. O. 1). or 
On Trial. Cat’l’g free if you 
name this paper. 
F. W. MANIt CD . Milford, Mass. 
Standard Green Bone and 
Vegetable Cutter Co , 
MILFORD MASS , 
Sue. to The E. J. Roche Co 
Warranted the only Manu¬ 
facturers of automatic 
feed! ng.easy rune ing, dur- 
able Green Bone Cutteis. 
® ft (i sizes for hand & power: 
- ? No. 10. $6.75; No. 9, $7 90; 
« a No. 8 . $9.50; No. 3 $16: No.4, 
?• $18; No 2 for power, $25. 
Sent on trial. Send for cat. 
DIRECT-UM BIT 
Best Combination Bit made. 
Severe or Easy 
as you want it. 
Sample mailed, XC Sl.OO, 
Nickel SSI. 50. 
RACINE MALLEABLE IRON C0„ Ra w c ,' s '‘. E> 
BUCKLEY’S IMPROVED BASIN. 
We make Watering Basins for Horses and 
Cattle, with styles adapted to every kind of fasten¬ 
ing, at prices from 75 cents to $1.50. 
WHITE FOR CATALOGUE. 
C. E. BUCKLEY & CO.. Dover Plains. N.Y. 
A HORSE FOR $3. 
Mr. James Mott, of Willmer, Minn., one of the 
most prominent liverymen and horsemen in the 
Northwest, says; “I had one of my best driving 
mares get stiffened in the shoulders so badly, 
that she was worthless, but I bought a package 
of Dr. McKee’s Magic Spavin Cure for $3, and ap¬ 
plied it to her shoulders, and it has completely 
cured her, so that she is just as good as ever. It 
is a wonderful medicine, and any one having a 
lame horse should use it. Sold by , , 
O. W. McKEE, V. S., Benson, Minn. J 
Therels NoDoubt merit of f)EHORNIiN& 
It cuts both ways, does not crush. One clip f* --knife— 
