1905 , 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
31 
A TALK ABOUT INCUBATORS. 
Will some reader of The R. N.-Y. 
who has had experience with “lamp 
trip" device for incubators tell us whether 
it is a good thing, or is it something to be 
let alone? I bought a worthless machine 
last year, and I want a good one this year. 
The one I think of buying has hard rubber 
thermostat and lamp trip instead of damper ; 
are such reliable? Tell us how to buy a 
pood machine. If I buy one on trial and it 
does not suit, can I get my money back? 
Who has tried to do so? inquirer. 
I have used both the lamp trip and other 
kind of regulators. I regard the damper ma¬ 
chines as the easiest to care for, but the 
lamp-trip machines use the least oil. I think 
It would be an easy matter to buy a machine 
on trial. If I wanted an incubator I would 
demand a trial to know whether I liked the 
machine before buying. If the maker was not 
willing to have it tried I would think he was 
afraid it would not do the work. Or else buy 
a machine and have it guaranteed to do the 
work satisfactorily or to be returned. We are 
having quite severe weather so far and with 
the ground covered with snow nearly all of 
last month eggs are very scarce, but we are in 
no great hurry, as we want the hens to be 
doing their best in the very early Spring, 
when the demand for eggs for hatching is in 
its height. D - A - mount. 
Jamesburg, N. J. 
I have had no experience with a “lamp 
trip" device on incubator. If the inquirer 
intends to hatch artificially for profit, he can¬ 
not afford to waste valuable time experiment¬ 
ing with cheap Incubators. They will hatch 
eegs tgood ones) of course, but have to be 
watched almost constantly. The most import¬ 
ant features to be considered in an incubator, 
are a reliable regulator, and a thorough sys¬ 
tem of ventilation, without any direct draft. 
There ought to be no trouble finding a good 
machine—there are at least half a dozen per¬ 
fectly trustworthy makes. The hens and put* 
Uts have done exceptionally well this Fall 
and Winter, so far. in the matter of laying, 
and general good behavior, and I think the 
principal reason is the extreme and unusual 
drvness of the season. We have had no 
tmavy rain in northern Ohio since the middle 
of September and as yet no very low tempera¬ 
tures to cause frost and consequent dampness. 
We have also been favored with a good deal 
of sunshine, which always produces high 
spirits in any normal hen. 
Brooklyn, O. iitlandale farm. 
All the experience I have had with the 
“lamp trip" for incubators lias been very un¬ 
satisfactory and I would never buy an incu¬ 
bator that'used one. I would also fight shy 
of the hard rubber thermostat, as to my mind 
and from all the experience I have had I 
find that those with an all metal thermostat 
are far the most trustworthy. Don’t buy an 
incubator because it is cheap in price, for it 
will be the most costly in the end. There are 
many good makes on the market. The hot¬ 
air machines are the best, as they have no 
water tanks to rust out, and it does not take 
so long to change the amount of heat. One 
of the main things in an incubator is an 
oven temperature of 103 degrees, a good 
double metal thermostat will keep that. An¬ 
other is a machine that will run with the 
least amount of oil, and which is able to 
stand the changes in the outside temperature 
without anv change in the heat in the ma¬ 
chine. Also be sure that the machine Is 
well made of kiln-seasoned lumber and air¬ 
tight aside from the ventilators. If you buy 
on trial I see no reason why you cannot get 
your money back if the machine does not suit. 
My pullets are doing well, although T have 
not been trying for Winter eggs, as T am 
keeping breeders only. They have started lay. 
Ing well and the only reason I can give for it 
is early pullets, care and proper feed, also 
good warm houses. grand view farm. 
Stanfordville, N. Y. 
By all means let it alone. With all pos¬ 
sible allowance for other people's opinions, 
I will say the lamp trip device is a snare, 
and with* an incubator where the lamp is 
burning continuously, no matter how well 
cared for, sometimes a crust will form on 
the wick, the lamp trip fails to work, and 
the chickens are cooked. The poorest place 
in the world to save money is buying an 
Incubator. Get the best, even if it costs 
twic- 1 what the poor one does. The first 
cost is the smallest item about running aM 
incubator. We have often placed .$30 worth 
of eggs in a $29 incubator, and anyone can 
see the necessity of having the best machine 
made to risk so many valuable eggs with. We 
would not try to tell anyone what machine to 
buy. but will give an idea what to look for 
in buying a new machine. 
Get* one with a steady flame regulated by 
hand, and with a very powerful as well as 
exceedingly sensitive thermostat that will 
regulate the temperature to the fraction of 
a degree, and be sure no lamp fumes enter 
the machine. The best makes nowadays take 
care of the moisture without troubling the 
operator. The ventilation is still much a 
matter of theory, most machines not having 
enough of it, and a modification of both 
plans seems good. We like to give some 
ventilation at top and bottom of machine, 
always remembering the colder the air the 
less ventilation most be given. I believe at 
present some of the incubator companies are 
offering to return a man’s money if he is not 
satisfied after a year's trial of their ma¬ 
chines, but I never heard of anyone getting 
his money back or even trying to. 
FI.OVD Q. WHITE. 
I consider the incubators with “lamp trip” 
perfectly reliable, if the remainder of the in- 
cubator is properly made with the proper ma 
terial. With a good thermostat the temper¬ 
ature can be accurately regulated. I have 
had experience with a metal thermostat only,' 
and know nothing about the rubber ones. In 
purchasing an incubator buy only the best, 
as a poor machine is expensive even if it cost 
nothing, as a poor one requires so much atten¬ 
tion. and then satisfactory results cannot be 
obtained. Some cheap incubators are recom¬ 
mended by those who use them, but as a rule 
the best are the cheapest in the end. The 
first cost is hardly to be considered when we 
take into consideration the expense of run¬ 
ning one. 
With a good incubator we can reasonably 
expect a high percentage of the fertile eggs 
to hatch with very little attention on the part 
of the operator, while with an inferior ma¬ 
chine, even though the strictest and most 
careful attention be given it, the results are 
often very unsatisfactory. The difference in 
price between a cheap and a first-class incu¬ 
bator can often be saved in one year by secur¬ 
ing better hatches with less labor. In pur¬ 
chasing an incubator buy only from reliable 
manufacturers, or agents who guarantee all 
their machines. If they are reliable they will 
make good their guarantee. An incubator 
that will hold at least 200 eggs is more 
profitable than a small one, as it requires very 
little more oil and no more time to operate 
than one of 50-egg capacity. Manufacturers 
of cheap incubators often make extravagant 
claims for their machines, and exert every 
effort to convince a prospective purchaser 
that theirs is the best on the market, but the 
safest plan is to buy an incubator that is 
recommended by some* reliable poultry breeder 
who has no ax to grind. A good 100-egg size 
incubator can be purchased for $15 or $20, 
and a 200 or 220-egg size can be purchased 
for $25 to $30. j. w. cox. 
Pennsylvania._ 
Cows and Pumpkin Seed. 
Is there any foundation for the theory that 
pumpkin and squash seed have a tendency to 
dry off cow r s when fed to them? c. f. w. 
Littleton Common, Mass. 
Pumpkin seeds have some action upon the 
kidneys, and are used to some extent as a 
medicine for expelling worms. In ordinary 
quantities they will not. dry off cows. We 
once lost some young pigs, as we believe, by 
feeding too many pumpkins. They lost the 
use of the hind legs—due, we believe, to 
weakening of the kidneys in cold weather. 
Animals that Gnaw Wood. 
Will some experienced reader of The R. 
N.-Y. give his opinion as what to give cows 
and horses that are constantly eating and 
gnawing wood ? b. l. t. 
These animals gnaw wood because their 
systems are out of order, owing to a lack of 
phosphates, or bone-forming material, in their 
food. Feed them fine bone meal, wheat bran 
or linseed meal. 
Lime Around Apple Trees. 
After removing the sod surrounding large 
apple trees I intend to apply about four 
quarts of lime to the base of each tree trunk. 
What effect will the lime have? f. s. ii. 
Sellersville, Pa. 
It will depend somewhat upon the present 
condition of the soil. If it is very sour 
the lime will have a good effect, though not 
as good as would be the case if the lime 
were scattered farther away from the trees. 
We can see no good reason, why you should 
put the lime close up to the tree trunks. 
Caring for Hen Manure. 
How can hen manure from 300 fowls be 
best cared for? We have TOO young apple 
trees to feed and have made a practice of 
carrying same each morning until about 
300 have had quite sufficient for awhile; 
the rest are some distance from the building. 
Could a covered rain-proof bin be constructed 
outside, and the droppings each morning 
be emptied into this? What mixing agent 
would you use to preserve it? n. v. 
Old Chatham, N. Y. 
This question is answered on page 123 of 
The Business Hen. We should keep the ma¬ 
nure dry, crush it in Spring and mix it with 
chemicals, as described in the book. 
Scalding a Hog. 
At what temperature should the water be 
to scald a hog properly? Do the large pack¬ 
ing houses put anything in the water to 
help loosen the bristles? w. f. g. 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 
The rule is to use water at a temperature 
of about 190 degrees for scalding hogs. In 
farm practice the water should boil. When 
put into a cold barrel the water will be about 
right. If the temperature runs down to 
1(55 degrees more time will be required, while 
if the water is too hot the hair will set, caus¬ 
ing more trouble than when cool water is 
used. Wood ashes, lye or lime in the water 
will help start the hair. We understand that 
the large packers use lye. 
EXPENSIVE FEED 
I f you skim by the old setting method you leave 
cream in the skim milk which you feed to your 
stock. This is in reality feeding butter, which you 
cannot afford to do. A National Separator will 
take all the butter fat out of your milk. It will in : 
crease the butter production one-lifth. It will give 
you warm sweet Bkim milk for feeding. The 
NATIONAL 
SEPARATOR 
skims to a trace. It has a very 
simple bowl construction, making 
it easy t o wash. 1 1 is also tneeasiesi 
running of all separators. W rite 
for our Book 50 , telling more. 
Monthly Payment Plan. 
When desired, the National 
Separator can be purchased on 
our easy payment plan. This 
requires no payment until 
Separator nas proven its 
worth after five days’trial. 
Then conies a small cash 
payment; the balance in 
easy monthly instalments. 
NATIONAL DAIRY MACHINE CO. 
NEWARK, N. J. 
General Western Agents: 
Hastings Industrial Co., 79 
Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. 
Desirable Agents 
wanted in unoccupied territory. 
Fall height 
4 ft. 4 in. 
/ Will Teach You the 
Chicken 
Business 
WITHOUT CHARGE 
and guarantee you 
success if you use 
MODEL 
r-f — 
m 
& 
jc&i 
is the egg that Is laid when eggs 
are high, and the hen that lays the 
golden egg is the hen that is fed 
Dr. Hess Poultry Pau-a-ce-a. This 
preparation, fed with other foods, 
tones up the egg-producing organs 
and enables the system to appro¬ 
priate all the egg-making material 
from the stuff fed. It makes hens 
lay all winter. 
DR. HESS 
POULTRY 
PAN-A-CE-A 
is the guaranteed egg producer. Cures 
diseases as nothing else can. Costs 
but a penny a day lor 30 to 60 fowls. 
1} lbs. 25c, mall or f 
express 40c 1 Kxcrpt In Cnn.tln 
5 ll>s. 00c < «n<l extreme 
1 2 lbs. * 1.25 J West and South. 
25 lb. pail *2.50. V. 
Sold on aWritten Guarantee 
Send 2 cents for Dr. Hess 48 page 
Poultry Book, free. 
DR. HESS & CLARK 
Ashland, Ohio 
INSTANT LOUSE KILLER KILLS LICE. 
OU’RE LOOKING 
for just such machines 
as Miller’s < 
Ideal Incubators! 
3943 Hennv St.BUFFALO. 
Experience. 
I put all I knew after making60,000 
other machines into my pay-for-itself 
OLD TRUSTY 
INCUBATOR. 
It (jot to the front i n a year. Every one sold doing 
what I made them to do. They’re working forme. 
Redwood, cold rolled sheet copper, safety lamp, 
automatic regulator. Every one goes out with 
40 Days Free Trial and 6 Years Guarantee. 
Write for my FREE Catalog and Advice Book,300 poul¬ 
try illustrations. 
M.M. JOHNSON CO.. Clay Center, Neb. 
THIS IS THE LIMIT. 
ST 4"h For a 60-Egg Hot Water, 
Self-regulating Incubator. 
Guaranteed to hatch every hatchable egg. 
S3 for 50-chick brooder. Only 87.50 
for complete outfit. 30 days’ 
trial. Send for FREE catalogue. 
Buckeye Incubator Co. 
Box 23. Springfield, Ohio. 
No agent's 
protits to pay. 
and Brooders. Sent on \ 
I 30 DAYS TRIAL. Abso- i 
I lutely automatic. Test It 
| yourself. Bit? poultry and 
poultry supply book Free. 1 
J. w. MILLER CO., Box 97, Freeport, III. 
tell* howtomnkcTnoney 
—llow to raise young chicks 
for early springinarkets when 
prices are high. Howto make 
a profit on clucks. How to 
feed for heavy fowls. How 
to make hens lay. Why not 
get an adequate return from 
poultry? Why not try modern 
methods this year? 
Why not learn al>out incuba¬ 
tors and brooders from a firm 
who have been in business since 
x867,and who know how to make 
satisfactory machines? Write us 
for the book today. It is free* 
GEO. ERTEL CO.. 
Quincy, Ill. 
$ I 0-80 For 
I <4 200 Egg 
INCUBATOR 
Perfect In construction and 
action. Hatches every fertile 
egg. Write for catalog to-day. 
GEO. ti. STAHL, Quincy, Ill 
THE 
Great Western “SL, 
Smth 
When you load It you know its 
parts are equal to their duties. 
Acre Produces 
A Third Mere 
by a proper top dressing of 
manure. The Great Western 
does it evenly, thick or thin, 
as wanted, and equals 15 men with the fork. Spreads so you get the full manure value—none 
thrown in chunks or piles to waste. Handles manure in all conditions, and all kinds of fertil¬ 
izers. Endless Apron, Hood and Endgate, Non-Bunchable Rake. Light Draft, Ball and 
Socket Bearings. Strength and Dura-biUty, are exclusive Great Western features. Sold under 
strong guarantee. Stocks carried and shipments made from cities in your section. W rite for 
catalogue, showing latest improvements. It tells how to apply manure to secure best results. 
Smith Manure Spreader C o., 13 S. Clinton St. y Chicago, III . 
■ » ■ ■■ m i ■ MH i aiama Miwiiai T i w iaT a iTrrmrB-m -- ’ —— ■ ■■ -—-- 
^ Ohio Shredder Blades 
( 1 "Paient Applied_for) 
make efficient shredders out of “Ohio” Feed and Ensilage 
Cutters. The New Shredder Bla.de is the regular “Ohio” 
knife with solid integrally projecting bits which cut and 
tear corn stalks into a nicely shredded condition, as shown 
in the picture. It makes corn-hay of the fodder. 
Shredder Bla.des are interchangeable with knives on all 
sizes "Ohio” Cutters. They successfully reduce fodder to 
the proper condition and do not pulverize the leaves like 
other styles. They shred with the same power, speed and 
capacity as “Ohio” Cutters, and either the Chain or Blower 
Elevators handle the shredded corn perfectly. Speed, 600 
to 700 revolutions. Power, 2 Horse Tread up to 12 h. p. 
Engine according to size. Let us send the 1904 catalogue 
of “Ohio” Cutters and Shredders. "Modern Silage 
Methods” 10c, coin or stamps- Manufactured by 
THE SILVER MFG. CO.. SaJem, Ohio. Established ,s 5 4- 
