MEMORIAL POULTRY LIBRARY "fHE eijf qj pfcywyvvm^wmvyvaygvyavv^gaTTl ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York State Colleges OF Agriculture and Home Economics AT Cornell University Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003204017 Mifieial loeaktioD "THRASHED OUT" THEORETICALLY, PRACTICALLY, AND HISTORICALLY, BT C. OASHMORE, LOUGHBOROUGH. oiTE s h: I X. 3L I nsr o- PRINTED BT AlPBED CTLAEKE, 32, SWAN STBBET. . 1891. VFfom The Library of C33 E 84^6 INTRODUCTION, Artificial Incubation having been before the public so many years it will be unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the possibility of incubating eggs artificially. That chicks, ducklings, etc., have been brought into existence by artificial means, without any assistance from the hen (after she has produced the eggs), and at times good results have been obtained by Incubators of the present day no one can deny. On the other hand, every one who has worked Incubators for any considerable time must admit that "some link in the chain" is missing — something hidden which has not been revealed — some error which occasionally causes great mortality, even to the loss of whole hatches. My aim therefore will be to unearth the monster, and to expose false theories. Mr. Lewis Wright, in his Poultry Book, published some 15 or 20 years ago, referring to the Egyptians and their egg-ovens, says : — " We can well believe that there are secrets which they have only themselves extracted from nature by long study and observation, and these means alone will induce her to reveal them to us." Since Mr. W. penned those lines, many new Incubators have been introduced to the public, and these secrets have been searched for continuously, but very few experimentalists have dived below the surface, they expected a temperature regulator to accomplish everything, and as it &.iled to do so, Artificial Incubation was given up by a large majority of them as hopeless. I do not know of any 4 INTBODUCTION. Incubator having been placed on the market which has been nearer to the solution of the problem than that in vented by Mr. Boyle 20 years ago, and I imagine that he abandoned his machine with its most sensitive regulator because he failed to discover these secrets, and had I not succeeded in capturing the monster during such a grand opportunity as presented itself by the continuation of unfavourable weather during the season 1891, 1 certainly should have followed Mr. Boyle into retirement ; an Incubator which can only be depended upon when the weather is favourable can only be looked upon as a mere toy. I must here ask the indulgence of my readers who have used my original Incubator ; I very much regret that I failed to make my machine perfect at first. Josh Billings says: "We sumtimes hit a thing right the fust blow, but most always a suckcess iz the result ov menny failures." Well, I think my customers will admit that I came as near "hitting" as anyone ; that I, with others, tripped over the same stumbling blocks. Where I failed others failed also. A.11 that has been accom- plished by any other Incubator has been accomplished by this one ; given good eggs, favourable atmospheric influences and careful management it was quite possible to obtain the coveted 100 "/(,, and this has been obtained by several of my customers. I have been censured because I did not keep my invention more prominently before the public, but I knew there was something to discover, and preferred to concen- trate my attention on research, rather than on a large output. The Temperature Question. We are informed by nearly all writers upon Artificial Incabation, that eggs must be maintained at 103 degs. Pahr. Several manufacturers of Incubators claim that they have produced a regulator, which, being placed in the nest, will maintain this temperature unaffected by external changes ; but they make a proviso thiat two or three degs. variation either way is of no consequence, and a sudden rise of the barometer, they tell us, will not affect the regulators more than two or three degs. It has been a mystery to me that I could not regulate my Incubator with a thermostat placed in the nest, while other makers do (so they say). The first regulating machine I made was fitted with a very sensitive thermostat which forced the flame of the lamp to a very small jet when the temperature was over 103, and enlarged the flame to full size when the temperature was under 103, but, owing to the time needed to cool and re-heat the water in the tank the temperature was constantly rising or falling between 100 and 106. I hatched chicks in this machine, and a report of the experiment was published in the Live Stock Journal early in the year 1879, but daring a subsequent trial a rising barometer "cooked" the eggs and an accident directed me to the regulation of the temperature by the expansion and contraction of the water in the cistern, by which system I loyally stand. Now any Engineer or Scientist who will "thrash out" the subject could tell us that metallic regulators, of them- selves, are neither sensitive, nor quick enough for our purpose, and that air or spirits as the motive power are unreliable, owing to the influence the pressure of the 6 THE TEMPEKAXFEE QUESTION atmospliere exerts over them, and that no regulator, how- ever sensitive, can maintain a perfectly even temperature when placed in the nest of a hot water Incubator ; but presuming for the raoment that all these difficulties have been overcome, and that we can perfectly maintain 103 degs. Fahr. in the empty nest of an Incubator, would this thermostat be correct ? No ! I do not wish to be misunderstood upon this question. I do not assert that eggs cannot he hatched by these regulators, my own experience teaches me that some eggs will hatch almost anyhow, but my study has been to produce an Incubator which shall be able at all times and under all conditions to hatch equal to the best sitting hen, and I assert a regulator placed in the nest is false, unnatural, and unscientific ; it may look clear and smooth on the surface, but we will get below ; we will perform an experiment in which all may join who have access to an Incubator of any make and prove this assertion. Provide three thermometers, all registering correctly, fix them in various parts of the drawer of an Incubator with the top of the bulb level with the top of the eggs, surround one of these thermometers with eggs due to hatch in a day or two, another with unfertile or dead eggs, and the third with eggs in any other stage ; now close the drawer and at the next visit note the register given by all three thermometers. Do they all indicate the same tem- perature ? No ! Is it possible to make them all indicate the same temperature ? No ! not until all eggs have been killed and thus reduced to the same condition. The general reader and the scientist may now answer the question, Is the temperature problem solved by a THE TEMPBEATUBB QUESTION. 7 regulator in the nest, or is the claim, of some manu- facturers simply "business puff" ? Now it will be found on examining the thermometers that eggs nearly due to hatch are several degs. higher in temperature than 103, and that clear or dead eggs are much lower ; here then is a source of great danger, especially in the hands of a novice (not only with thermostatic Incubators, but with my original machine). If all eggs are fertile and strong, and the weather is favour- able, we may bring off good hatches with the temperature of the nest maintained at 103 degs. Fahr., but from the first to the last there is a "tug of war" between the life in the egg and the regulator ; if the eggs hatch they have won ; if they die in the shell they have lost, and that is all we have known about it, but if a large proportion of the eggs are weakly, and die during the second week, the mischief begins ; at one time we have live eggs in close proximity to the thermometer, and we imagine the temperature is too high, and adjust the regulator accordingly ; if now we move the eggs and bring dead ones in close proximity to the thermometer, the next time we visit the machine we find the temperature too low, and thus we are altering the setting of the temperature and perhaps killing those that otherwise would hatch. I trust I have made it clear to my readers, that a thermostat or any other regulator placed in the nest is false, unnatural, and unscientific, and that even a thermometer in the nest is unreliable ; we will now try if we cannot obtain something worthy of the name of regulator, and which will prove that even the problem of 8 I'llE TEMtERATORE QUESTION. producing a temperature regulator has not before been solved ; but before doing so it will be necessary to clear the ground somewhat. Mr. Hearson says : — *•' We made several forms of Incubators with tanks in which the water was regulated with such precision that it did not vary half a deg. day nor night for a week ; but we found that a thermometer placed in the egg drawer varied fully half as much as the external air," I do not know whether this experiment was made with a view to advance artificial incubation or to run down other systems, I can only meet the remark by a counter statement, that I can make a machine (I will not say Incubator) and fit it with a thermostatic regulator, and eggs placed in it shall vary quite as much as the external air ; does this prove anything ? My most perfect Incubator (No. 4) has a tank of water surrounding the eggs — heat is applied below— by a natural law the water at the top of the tank is hotter than that at the bottom. The temperature is ascertained by a thermometer, which is immersed in the tank, and the water is automatically maintained at 104 degs, Fahr. ; we have thus an artificial broody hen, always one temperature, always ready and willing to sit, eggs may be placed in the nest at any time and they regulate their own temperature exactly the same as they would do under a hen, and now a thermometer in the nest becomes useless, except as a scientific instrument which will tell us the correct temperature of eggs in various stages. During the first * Artificial Incubation by C. E.Hearson.. P. 19. THE TBMPEBATCRI QITBSTIOW. 9 stage they are several degs. lower than the water in the tank, and at the hatching time higher, I believe the evils caused by a regulator in the nest would never have been discovered but for this machine, which shows it in its true colours, Should we raise the temperature of the water in the tank two degs., the thermometer in the drawer with the eggs will not rise half a deg., and should we lower the temperature of the water in the tank two degs., the thermometer in the drawer with the eggs will not fall half a deg., and should we reduce the temperature of eggs due to hatch to 100 degs, Fahr., it would be necessary to reduce the heat of the water in the tank to 90, therefore instead of the eggs varying half as much as the external atmosphere, they do not vary half as much as the water in the tank (except the increase of heat as life advances), and the water being automatically maintained at an uniform temperature, we need no diagram to shew the variations upon the eggs ; whereas with a so- called regulator in the nest, regulation is impossible. The question may now be asked, is it not an evil applying heat below the eggs ? Mr. Hearson says :*" Any apparatus which heats the eggs from below I have no hesitation in pronouncing a failure without further examination, as out of 800 eggs experimented upon in several Incubators supplying heat from below I only succeeded in hatching two chickens." This shows to what an extent anyone is liable to be deceived when making experimental research, and the •material of which our ''theory" is built. All writers during the last 20 years, whom I have consulted, condemn * Artificial Incubation by C. E. Heaieon. P. 41. 10 THE TEMPBEATIJEB QUESTION. applying heat below the eggs ; some inform us that they require to be kept warm on the upper and cold on the lower side, but none of them know. Such writers as Mr. Lewis Wright and Mr. Edward Brown are careful not to commit themselves by assertions they cannot prove, but the amount of trash that lias been published in pamphlets and poultry papers by experimentalists generally is surprising ; some perform an experiment — it comes off satisfactorily, they rush into print with the solution of the problem ; perhaps before the ink is dry a repetition of the same experiment is a complete failure. Some perform an experiment which tarns out a failure, and the thing is condemned without further examination, when perhaps they have put the "shoe on the wrong foot ; " and other experimentalists are held back by these assertions. I have not selected this assertion of Mr. Hearson's because it held me back, as I did not see his work until I had succeeded where he had failed. The very thing which he so strongly condemns has proved a stepping stone to me. I care nothing now for all the theories and assertions put forth by experimentalists ; I have stepped out of the old rut some time ago, and "set up" for myself. Well now, we have the temperature settled — we apply heat below — keep the "old hen" always at one temperature, unaffected by thermal or barometrical influences, surely the problem is solved ? No ; it has not been, and never will be, solved by a temperature question alone. We may keep the temperature perfect, and fail miserably, owing to some error elsewhere, but we have settled the regulation difficulty, and will search elsewhere for the missing link. 11 The Moisture Question. The theory held by all interested in the science of artificial incubation, is, that eggs require to be kept in a moist atmosphere, and that water for the purpose of creating vapour in Incubators is an absolute necessity. Messrs. Boyle, Penman, Voitellier, Christy, Howell, Tomlinson, Hearson, Hillier, Field, Lathbury, and other experimentalists, have appliances of some description for creating vapour in their Incubators. For upwards of 15 years I have been a follower of this theory, and with Mr. Edward Brown, was of opinion "that it is impossible to give too much moisture by evaporation," The greatest known enemy we have had to fear has been a dry E. wind, and during the prevalence of these winds it has not been possible to give enough moisture by evaporation, and at times eggs are dried up, even if they are sprinkled two or three times a day. There has also been another enemy which has been overlooked or unnamed i.e, a saturated atmosphere. We may pass through several seasons, and only receive a transient visit, but during the season 1891 it was almost a constant attendant. Mr. Cook, in Poultry, of March 20th, 1891, says :— " So far this season I find there are very few chickens about ; I have not heard of any very good results from hens, but still less from Incubators, so many chickens having died in the shell. I use one of H 's, and the mysterious thing about it is, that although it does not vary 2" in six weeks, the chickens die in the shells, not for the want of moisture, as that I take particular notice of." 12 THE MOISTURE QUESTION. Mr. Cook is quite correct, it was not for want of moisture. If he will make enquiries at the Meteorological Station of his district he will probably fiud that the atmosphere during his trial, was thoroughly saturated, An experimentalist, some years ago, attributed the losses during such weather to miasma ; and prescribed fresh lime in the drawer as a remedy. Some have suggested Condy's Fluid. Some have tried greasing the eggs, and some have even gone so far as to try smoke drying them, by burning a paraffin lamp directly under the nest, but still the secret which Mr. Lewis Wright spoke of nearly 20 years ago is undiscovered and a moisture theory is reigning supreme. Mr. Hearson says :*'' those who are acquainted with Ualton's tables of the tension of water vapour, will know that the amount of aqueous vapour which the air will carry with it depends on the temperature, and as this is constant, the moisture will always be the same." I would suggest to Mr. H. the advisibility of looking up Dalton again before he repeats this assertion, as anyone who carefully reads the laws referred to will know that this law is not applicable to Incubators, the amount of vapour the air will carry, and the amount it does carry, when subject to atmospheric influences, are two different things. No system of moistening the air in Incubators by the application of moisture trays can create an uniform humidity ; unless the humidity amounts to complete saturation, and complete saturation is tantamount to complete failure, If Dalton's laws are applicable to Incubators, where would the difficulty arise in keeping a " Artiiicial Incubation, by C. E. Hearton. F. 20. THE MOISTUBK QrESTIOlf. 18 moist atmosphere in a "sick" room? Simply placing pails of water in the room would nccoinpb'sh the object, the temperature being constant the moisture should be the I have performed experimentswith moisture in every conceivable way, and results have been anything but satisfactory. In genial weather, with eggs from strong, well fed fowls, we may bring off good hatches, but during an exceptionally dry or damp atmosphere, failure more or less becomes the rule. In dry weather we cannot give enough moisture by evaporation, and in damp weather chicks are drowned in the shells if we give none. It is not an enviable occupation to sit by the side of an Incubator to remove moisture trays in damp weather, to replace them in genial, and to sprinkle the eggs when the atmosphere is dry, I could not see hens carrying moisture in dry and withholding it in damp weather; therefore I Ijegan to look upon our moisture theory with suspicion. We are told in support of this theory, that hens brjng off better hatches when they "steal" their nest and make it in a hedge bottom, than they do when sitting in a poultry house. Is this so ? If a hen brings off a good hatch from a stolen nest, there is as a rule no secret made of the occurrence, it is something to talk about : but if she spoils all the eggs, nobody knows anything about it, I would suggest that when a hen brings off an unusually good hatch from a stolen nest it is because she laid all the eggs herself, whereas another hen sitting in the poultry house has been supplied with a mixed lot of eggs. We all know that eggs from some birds vjill hatch, while those from another will not, under the same conditions of incubation 14 THE MOIST0EB QUESTION Also, do not hens in exceptionally dry places hatcli all the eggs sometimes ? Has anyone tried making a nest in a damp place ? If so, T imagine they wonld soon find the hen "sitting standing." Some will assert they sprinkle the nest when the eggs are dne to hatch, with good results. Can anyone prove they would not have hatched without this treatment ? Do hens naturally choose a damp place ? Everyone who has worked Incubators must vote the moisture question a nuisance, even if it were satisfactory and reliable, but Experimentalists, Manufacturers, and "the Press," all^ unite in asserting we cannot do without it ; let us try, we are quite convinced that if there is a secret to be discovered, we must remove the moisture question before we shall be able to find it. We have perfected the regulation of temperature, and can bring off better hatches during genial weather than we could twelve years ago, but during the extremes of atmospheric influences comparative failure still follows us ; therefore we will abandon "moisture" and search elsewhere. 15 Ventilation. All Incubators have some arrangements for the admission of fresh air to the eggs, and for the discharge of vitiated air. Some experimentalists have tried regulating the tem- perature by a valve or damper, which retards the ventilation when the temperature is too low, and increases it when too high ; but the system most generally adopted is to regulate the heat applied, and allow a constant and regular supply of fresh air (or rather, they tell us it is constant and regular ; the atmospheric influences which cause more or less draught, are not taken into considera- tion). I do not see much alteration in the ventilation during the last fifteen years, but it is interesting and amusing to read the various claims put forth by manu- facturers ; some advertising in their prospectuses and the " Poultry " papers, "ours is the only scientific method," but when we come to examine it, we find it only an imitation of twenty years ago. One manufacturer, however, steps boldly out and tells us, " six or eight times as much air as is necessary for the supply of all the chicken, which can be hatched ia any particular sized Incubator, passes through the ventilating holes." Another surpasses this by "supplying about ten times more ventilation than would be possible in a hot water Incubator." I suppose my readers will expect me to beat the record by giving twenty times more than would be possible in a hot air Incubator, but I am not in this competition ; I believe "enough is as good as a feast and too much of a good thing an evil." 16 TENfTILiTinN, Now, is the amount of air passing through any Incubator of the present day regular at all times ? Any- one who has the management of a stove, or ordinary fire grate, can answer this question in the negative. During a dry atmosphere, with a high barometer, the rush of air through an Incubator or stove is considerable, but when the atmosphere is saturated, and the barometer low, there it scarcely any ventilation through an Incubator; and I have known the current to enter at the top and escape at the bottom. Here then, we have the two extremes of atmospheric influences which have been fatal to artificial incubation. The first is known as E. wind, and is really a dry and heavy atmosphere, the rush of air through Incubators at this time carries the moisture from the tray, and from the eggs with it, and we complain of insufficiency of moisture. The other has never been named, it is generally set down as E. wind, but it is a damp and light atmosphere ; at this time there is scarcely any air passing through an Incubator and fires can scarcely be made to burn. The latter evil was the chief cause of poor results obtained by Incubators and hens generally during the season, 1891. It will now be understood why success and failure have been obtained by the same Incubator, and under the same management. We are told, that we have perfect regulaiors, scientific moistening and ventilating arrangements, yet only in genial weather can we bring off good hatches ; but if the weather is unfavourable, and the question is asked, Why have I failed ? The reply is "we do not know," or "atmos- pheric influences." Sometime ago I read in a newspaper, VENTILATION. 17 that a great American Electrical Inventor stated in a law court, that he knew nothing about theory, and did not wish to know ; had he studied theory he would have been prevented from making experiments. I am of opinion that I should have perfected my Incubator years ago, but for "theory." Theory says, we mtist apply top heat only ; we must ascertain the temperature by a thermometer in the neat. We must have moisture. Remove any one of these legs and down comes the tripod. This is so, and like a thi-ee-legged stool, it sometimes comes to grief without removing a leg ; but the difBcnltj is overcome by removing 0II the legs. I apply heat below. I ascertain the temperature by a thermometer in the tank. I banjsh the moisture trays for something better and less troublesome. I will not weary my readers by taking them through the various experiments which led to the discovery. The secret has been hidden all these years under the moisture theory, and when this was removed we had only to search under ventilation. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and is it not strange that after various "only scientific methods'" of ventilation have been before the public for years, a patent- able method should remain to be discovered, which would revolutionise the whole theory of artificial incubation ? The ventilation, according to my latest discovery (which is secured by provisional protection), is now so arranged that the superfluous damp in the atmosphere cannot enter the nest, also the E. wind has now no power to rob the eggs of their natural moisture. 18 T1NTILA.T10N. After upwards of fifteen years research, I have discovered that eggs are made perfect, aud are supplied by nature with sufficient moisture for hatching purposes. I am rather ashamed to make this statement, and 1 throw all the blame on 'theory," but by way of excuse I would remind my readers that unfavourable weather was the only favourable opportunity for making research in artificial incubation ; however, I was prepared for the opportunity when presented, and a perfect, natural, and scientific method of ventilation, which has efiectually removed the vexatious moisture theory, is the result. How do I prove the moisture theory false ? By the same means that I use to prove the temperature theory false. By the Incubator itself, thus : — Start two Incubators, try one without moisture, and the other with ; in the one the eggs are dry until hatching time, then, when they "chip" the moisture supplied by nature escapes from the fracture made by the chicks — creates a natural moist atmosphere in the nest, and they hatch out healtby ; but in the other, a large pro- portion of the chicks will be drowned in the shell, exactly the same as they were in a large number of Incubators during the saturated atmosphere of the past season, and I challenge anyone to contradict my assertion, "that eggs are supplied by nature with sufiScient moisture for hatching purposes." The answer to the questions — Why are so many chicks dead in the shells ? Why have so many deformed feet ? can now be found in the moisture theory, I stand alone at present as an opposer of this theory, but the time will soon come when any Incubator having VENTILATION. 1 9 auy comiecton with this- theory will be looked upon with suspicion. Mr. Edward Browu says : — " Certaiuly Incubators are useful, but they require brains to work them." It will now be plain to everyone where the "brains" have been needed. We have all been under the influence of ' Ri/drocephaluii' and have been fighting against natural laws, and now we wonder that we could produce chicks at all with our unnatural treatment. Then, we did not know the correct temperature for eggs under incubation. Now, we do. Then, we were misled by a thermometer in the nest. Now, we are not. Then, we were liable to accident by a rising barometer. Now, we are not. Then, we were liable to drown the chicks in the shell. Now, we are not. Then, we were liable to dry them up. Now, we are not. Then, we were groping in the dark, almost bewildered during unfavourable weather by the management of an Incubator. Now, darkness gives place to light, and artificial incubation becomes one of the simplest things in the world. Nearly all great inventions have been perfected by the removal of complications, and it is just so with artificial 20 TENTILATION. incubation. We began wrong; we tried adding other wrongs to make a right, and consequently we required "brains'" to work the machines. All complications of regulators and calculations as to temperature are removed. We bow to nature, filter the atmosphere, remove the moisture, trays, and at last we have an Incubator, which at all seasons will surpass hens, if they are not on their best behaviour. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOQQ'^^^^'-' -^- CASH MORES -do- Automatic -?- Incubator. The Pioneer. FIRST INTBODUCED IN 1879. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 21 Historical. The Tncnbator, as illustrated on the preceding page, was invented by me and first introduced to the public in 1879, as an improvement upon the Hydro-Incubators, which at that time had gained some notoriety as the result of a Tournament held at Herael Hempstead in 1878. In answer to announcements appearing in "the Press" that the trial would be repeated in 1879, I entered this machine, which gained second place. This competition is now matter for history, bnt for reasons best known to the Committee some tacts were withheld, This histoiy would certainly have been more interesting and perhaps more beneficial to the public had the Eeport been written by the " Disappointed Competitors," Prof, Long, in his Poultry Book, says : — " Next came the Incubator invented and exhibited by Cashmere, which won second prize at the Hemel Hempstead Tournament, the temperature of the egg drawer during the twenty-one days' trial varying between 96° and 104°, fifty seven per cent, of the eggs being hatched." This is quite correct so far as it goes, and history goes no further, I suppose the inference drawn from this and similar statements would be that the machine was unmanageable, owing to the heat varying 9°, whereas a table of the official register with an explanation, would have shown this inference to be erroneous. The explanation, which should in all fairness have accompanied the report, is — on the morning of the 7th day the lamp in this Incubator was found to have been misplaced ; a starement made by the person in charge that " he found a cat in the room," was accepted by the Com- mittee, but did not appear in their Report. 22 HISTOEICAL, The following Table which is copied from "Artificial Incubation," by Mr, Edward Brown, will prove that during the earliest infancy of this machine the temperature was under control. At this early date I was of opinion that the temperature, as ascertained by a thermometer in the nest, should be lower during the early than during the latter stages of incubation. No, i Cashmoeb's Lamp, hatched 57"14 "/o. No. of Days ...< 1 Heat in JMorn. ilOSJ Drawer [Night 100 2 3 4 5 . 6 7 8 9 10 100 100 99 100 100 96 101 102J 102 100 100 101 102 101 102J 100 104 102J 11 I 12 102 1 104 102 |102i No. of Days ... 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Heat in Morn. 102 102 102 102J 102 99 102 103 103 102 104 Drawer [Night 104i 103 105, 104J 102 105 104 104 103 104 Had it been my duty or privilege to write the history of that competition T should have said a word or two with reference to the egg shells having been destroyed ; each lot of eggs was marked with a signature, and no two lots were endorsed by the same person ; this was, according to rule, to prevent fraud. As the chicks hatched out, they and the egg shells were removed by the person in charge, but, when the competition terminated, chicks only were presented to the judge, the shells when called for were not forthcoming, they had been destroyed. This fact, together with the discovery of another Hydro-InCubator on the premises, and other mysterious circumstances confirmed all the competitors, except the winner, into "disappointed competitors." HISTORICAL. 23 As one result of this competition Hydro-Incubators were the machines of the day. Another result was the creation of an impetus, which started inventors after a regulator. Oh, for a Regulator ! A kingdom for a Regulator ! This imaginary beacon was searched for with all the energy of enthusiasm, but many explorators soon discovered that they were following a "will o' the wisp," and retired muttering, "artificial incubation is a failure." Others cried " Eureka ! " at first sight of the "ignis fatuus" careless of the mud and disappointment. Away from Hemel Hempstead the "Hydro" Incubator was unable to maintain its standard at 97° jg, and, strange to say, such was the force of the reaction in public opinion that after persuading the poultry world that lamps and regulators were answerable for previous failures, and that the cure for all diseases in artificial incubation could be found only in Hydropathy, the inventor of this "star of the first magnitude'' actually adopted a lamp and regulator himself. Metallic regulators, however, soon found a rival ; a discovery was made that there is nothing like air, so sensitive, but when the barometer began to play with it, this was allowed to stand down. Soon another thermostatic regulator appeared upon the stage — a "Spirit" Regulator. Although its inventor strongly denounced "supplying heat from below," he did not say that this regulator was supplied from above. But, being infallable, could this have been the production of 24 HISTORICAL. any ordinary mortal? Its introducer claimed that it had "solred the problem of how to maintain a regular tem- perature loifhin 5"." Did not admit failure to be possible. Said it was "the only thermostatic incubator in the world." Pointed &t others as "worthless imitations," and assumed for it a title. This was not all ; through the Press he said : — "Mine is the best Incubator in the world, but no other maker will give me an opportunity of testing my machine by the side of theirs." The opportunity was immediately offered, but the offer, although acknowledged, was not accepted. Query — Do the laws of the arena allow a gladiator, who wUl not fight, to assume the title of " Champion?" The Automatic Incubator, which fought in the battle of Hemel Hempstead, which won a second rate position, and divided the lines of the Boiling Water Forces, was, and is, open to another engagement under amended rules. It never claimed "perfection" for one of its names, but it did, and does claim Equality. We next had a new departure, in the form of " Atmospheric Incubators." These were the production of experimentalists who were dissatisfied with the results they obtained when using thermostatic hot water machines. I have been favoured with opportunities of overhauling some of these Incubators, and I consider that if the problem is to be solved by a perfectly regular temperature, as ascertained by a thermotneter in the nest, this was a step in the right direction ; but if the solution depends upon more closely following nature these machines must soon "stand doWn." I cannot imagine anything more out- HISTORICAL. 25 rageous than placiug eggs in a riddle, and allowing a paraffin lamp to play amongst them. Time and space forbid the mention of all the actors in this drama, but as very few are endowed with sufficient nerve for "stars" I trust they will overlook the omission. We can now survey the course right back to Hemel Hempstead ; here we behold the whole exploring army searching for something — following an ignis J'atuus, and tramping through the mud, " Regulator in the Nest,'' and -' Moisture " blazoned on their banners. Oh yes ! I was drawn into the current, but I have landed high and dry ; have planted a danger signal "Beware of Moisture," and unfurled A banner with the strange device — " Excelsior! " During the exploration of this dark continent of Artificial Incubation two burning questions were before the country, one — Why are so many chicks dead in the shell? Very few attempts were made to answer this question. The " Champion " said "we do not know," but he promised a reward to any who would communicate the answer. Here it is — because the eggs have been treated unnaturally. The other — Why have so many chicks deformed feet? An elaborate answer to this question was attempted by the '• Scientist " to the effect that it was caused by noise, such as hammering, passing trains, Vibration t)f floors, ded. Do not believe such rubbish ! Deformed feet are the result of cramp engendered before, or during hatching by "moisture." Moral — Do not pla;c6 too great faith in advertisements, or you may find, when too late, that "all is not gold that glitters." 26 Practical. Having cleared the ground somewhat and described the development of the Incnbator, we will now endeavour to describe the management. As before stated the temperature is automatically regulated by :the expansion and contraction of the water in the tank : — A float or piston which rides on the water, is connected, as illustrated on the following page, to the burner of a nicely balanced lamp ; the result being that if the heat of the water rises the flame of the lamp is reduced and vice-versa. This action being immediate the variations are almost nil, because a rise of one degree would , reduce the flame of the lamp from the largest to the smallest possible size. To make this quite clear, and to illustrate how to solve a problem : Imagine a large thermometer, apply a moveable lamp to the bulb, let a piston ride on the mercury in the tube and connect it, by beam and rods, to the lamp. If necessary arrangements have been made, it will now auto- matically regulate the temperature and the thermometer is converted into a thermostat ; now make an insertion in the bulb, place eggs therein, and the thermostat becomes a Thermostatic Incubator, i.e. an Incubator being a self-acting apparatus for regulating temperature. Now we are ready to unpack the machine and com- mence operations. Fix it in any convenient room which is well ventilated. Fill the tank with rain vrater, heated to 106 degs. Kahr. Fill and light the lamp, join the connections, and allow the temperature to settle. c^l^, ooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooo oooooooooooooooo. -m- CASH MORES -^ PATENT Automatic -i- Incubator, No. 4. The Masterpiece. THE KEY WHICH UNLOCKED THE MYSTERY. PRACTICAL. 27 After the machine has been running for an hour or two note the register i>f the tank thermometer, if it is registering above the "red mark" put a little water into the tank ; if below, draw off a little at t he tap. A small mea.T I ^^ I-. s RECEIVED REFERRING TO GflSIIQOBE'S Om&iPL INGUBBTOR. " I am pleased to inform you that I have been very successful with your Lamp Incubator, having hatched 88 ducks from 113 eggs during the season, and in the last drawer full which was hatched in June, I had 39 chicks out of 42 e^gs. I have never had such good results when setting under hens." — John Clarke^ Woodbrooke CottcLge^ Loughborough. " The Incubator is a complete success, every egg as yet has hatch- ed true to the day, flue strong chicks. I am delighted with it." — Austin Biggs, St. Peter's Schools, Bromya/rd, , October 8, 1ST9. " Some time ago I bought an Incubator from Mr. Cashmore of Loughborough. The description of the machine given in the Fanciers' Chkoniclb induced me to try it. I had no experience in the working of an Incubator, never having seen one of any sort before. I placed seven eggs in the drawer on July 3rd, and on the 23rd had five chicks hatched. On the 24th I put in some fresh eggs, and again on the 25th, 26th, and 40 TESTIMONIALS. 28th, in all 43 eggs. Out of these 38 hatched, 3 had dead chicks in, and 2 were addled. I should add that mine is one of the Lamp Incubators, and I found it very easy to manage."— J/iss E. B., from Fancieks' Cheonicle, Nov. 14, 1S7S. " I have been using one of Cashmore's Lamp Incubators this season and am quite satisfied with it, and am fully persuaded that for amateurs it is the 'best machine. My first batch of 11 eggs all natoh- ed " Gerard H. Fitzherbert, from Live Stock Joukn-al, June 4, ISSO. " I find the lamp very simple and to require far less attention than any other I have tried." — 0. j5»-ncs« Cresswell, Esq.. Mnme;/ Cross, near Hereford, Sept. 18S0. " I am glad to inform you that the Incubator I purchased from you some time ago haa proved in every way quite a success, and this being my first attempt at Artificial Incubation, the results (^ which I give below) have quite surpassed my anticipation. "1st hatch, out of 22 hen eggs, 18 proved fertile, and 15 hatched out fine strong chicks. " 2nd hatch, 31 ducks' eggs, 21 proved fertile, 18 hatched out ; also 11 hen eggs, of which 10 were fertile, 8 hatched out." — Thos. Pattison, Aislabt/, Piclcenng, Yorkshire, Sept. 7, 1880. " Since writing you last 1 have had another hatch of chickens, this time with even greater success thau before. Out of 33 fertile eggs I got 32 chickens, equal to a percentage of 96-96, a result which I am sure speaks volumes for your machine." — Tlios. Pattison. " I have now given the 50 egg Incubator I had of you a second trial, with great success, having hatched 23 strong chickens' from 30 eggs, the other seven I removed at the expiration of seven days, so that not one "was lost. I am so pleased with it that I shall not trust valuable eggs ■with liens in the future. The simplicity of your machine is its recom- mendation ; it requires so little attendance. I have worked it without varying more than two degrees night or day." — F. Shepherd, Poultry Cottage, Bath^rn Station, Jan. 18, 1882. " I was surprised to find in your issue of the 20th that Cashmore's Incubators are not mentioned. Anything more simple, more perfect, and less likely to get out of order I cannot imagine. I bought an old one almost by accident a long time since, have used it with great success for three seasons, and thoroughly believe that every fertile and fresh egg, even to a fortnight old. will be sure to hatch out. I don't know Mr. Cashmore. I have no interest in selling the machine, but am simply an aged clergyman no longer equal to work, and amuse myself, while waiting, in hatching and rearing chickens, finding one of the above Lamp Incubators an agreeable companion even in my bedroom. TESTIM0KIAI.8. 41 Further information will with pleasure be given as soon as permitted. Having the above machine I would not risk any valuable egrgr under any lien, and uulj" wish you or anyone v ith influence would try one, so that they may be generally known for the general good. — i'ow» dncemly, P. ParkeT Sinitli, Jl. St. Jnmea Place, Pit/mouth, April 24A. P. W. — The Lamp requires trimming only once a season, quarter pint of benzoline added e\ery twenty-four hours, the eggs turned and aired once a day, and only one supply of water required the whole time it is in use." Ej-ti-nil t'l "in PouLTUY Mni/ 4th. 188$. '• Vour machine is one I could recommend to anybody. I had 35 live chicks last month from 40 uggs. — .l/r.«. Knrhj, Newland, Witney, ().,■:„. JriiL. 2i. 1885. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. ■We found when testing the machine, that it kept its heat very even indeed, and with as much regularity as any lamp machine we have tried.'- Fanclkiis' Chuoniclb. Mcifi SO, 1879. ■• The merits of this Incubator are its size, the simplicity of its working, its capital regulator, its excellent arrangements for air and moisture, and the small cost of oil it burns." — Practical Aktificial iNuuBAriox, by Edivard Brown. Esq.. Messrs. C'assell, Petter ^ Galpin. " It is evident enough that the practice of 'filling up' from time to time as eggs are laid and there is room does tint answer for at least Hydro Incubators. On the other hand it is remarkable that Cashmore's Lamp Incubator seems to have stood this particuar ordeal of 'filling up' remarkably well." — Live Stock Jouunal, July SO, 1880. Our stock of these Incubators having been disposed of previous Price Lists are hereby cancelled. As proof that good materials are used, and good workmanship employed, we have only received for repairs, during our long connection, two Incubators affected with leakage, and both these were 42 INCUBATORS. the result of accident ; in one the connection between the funnel and cistern, and in the other between the tap nipple and cistern were broken. We now guard against the recurrence of these accidents, by riveting as well as soldering the joints, and have every reason to believe that with ordinary care our inachijies will last a lifetime. INCUBATORS. 43 Patent -> flatomatle -t- IneabatoF. r No. 2. These Incubators are well and substantially made, cases of best seasoned pine, stained and varnished, fittings lacquered brass, fitted with our new anti-moisture arrange- ments, are unaffected by barometrical or hygrometrical influences, and are far ahead of any other machine — our No. 4 and 5 excepted. Will be found useful as auxiliary machines, and will meet the requirements of those fanciers, who desire a cheap Incubator. Price, to h.old 50 S^gs, Q-alvanized Iron CUstern ... JS3 O „ „ „ „ Copper Cistern 3 15 O „ „ 100 „ Oalvanized Iron Cistern ... 4 10 „ „ 5, „ Copper Cistern 5 12 O Incubator No. 3, as above, but fitted -with stationary Lamp for Paraffin or Qaa, as Illustration No. 5, 10/- extra to order. 44 INCCBATORS. Patent <■ Aatomatie -> Ineabator, No. 4. The oaly tlierinostatic Incubator in the world, un- affected by barometrical, hysrometrical, or external thermal variations : can be worked successfully during any weather, in any room, between, and includintr, a canvas tent and a conservatory. Chicks dried up, glued in the shell, dead in the shell, deformed feet, etc. are things of the past. Any child who can be trusted to trim a lamp can work this successfully. Superior make and finish in every way as No. 2. PRICES AS UNDER— 30 Egg, Copper Cistern, £5 Galvanized Iron Cistern, £4 60 ,, ,, „ ' J) j» „ 6 ISO „ „ „ lO „ „ „ 8 Incubator No. 4, fitted witli Stand, as per IHnstration No. 5, Price 5/- eaoh extra. INCUBATORS. 45 Patent <• Aatomatie ^ Ineabator, No. 5. The temperature is ascertained by a thermometer in the tank, and is also fitted with onr anti-moisture arrange- ments, as No. 4. but tliese are not shown in illustration. Fitted with >tand. Gas, and Paraffin Lamp arrange- ments. PBICES AS UNDER— 30 Egg, Copper Cistern, £5 15s. Cralvanized Iron Cistern £4 15s 60 „ „ „ 7 15 „ „ „ 6 15 130 „ „ „ 10 15 , 8 15 46 BROODERS. Old Pattern Brooder. To accommodate 50 Chicks 100 „ £1 10 2 These will be found useful as drying boxes, but are not absolutely necessary. Owing to the probability that a large number of unregulated and thermostat-in-the- incubator machines will very soon be thrown out of work, and may be purchased as "drying boxes" at a cheap rate, these Brooders wUl only be made to order. BROODERS. 47 The ^m Brooder. The New Krooder utilizes the tinimal heat generated hy the young hirds themselves, and only a genial warmth is neeessary for successful rearing. Having neither lamp nor hot water they are ivell adapted for use in a greenhouse, which need not be overheated for the purpose. In mild weather they may be used in a Poultry-house, or in tne open, and will need no artificial warmth whatever, if the tem- perature is as high as 40 deg. Fahr. during the first week, after this a few degs. lower will do no harm. They are constructed in sets, which nest one in another, and as the chickens grow the smaller ones are removed to give the necessary room. A set can take charge of all the chicks which can be hatched in the corresponding incubator, and brood them up to six weeks old. For (he idea of this Brooder we are indebted to the honey bee and the economy of the hive. We had such confidence in chicks keeping themselves warm in a properly constructed Brooder (Hive), that we trusted 62 chicks to themselves and Brooder on the 28th of April, 1890, which were hatched in our Incubator only two days previous, and our faith was rewarded by seeing the whole lot (except three which were killed by accident) reared most successfully in a spare greenhouse, without any artificial heat whatever ; after this we trusted other chicks as soon as they were' hatched with like results, and we certainly shall never use a heated Brooder again. These are well made of best pine, varnished, dovetailed, grooved and tongued. Price per Set of 4, No. 1 (25 to 80 chicks) ... £1 10 O „ „ „ „ a (50 to 60 „ ) ... 8 6 48 Seetioti of Hearing House. .^^^^-.^^^^■vS^-^-t^vM^^-^-,-^^^- .^^~- ^^^-- ^^^^ For Poultry Breeders who have not a suitable house at command these will be found very handy for reariuij quantities, such as one or two luoubators can hatch, and the Lamp will carry the chicks through the most unfavour- able weather. In warm weather the Lamp need not be lighted. The object, as will be seen, is to keep the severe weather from the run ; the chicks provide their ow^n fuel when nesting in the Brooder. They are made in sections, and can be taken to pieces or put together in a few minutes by a handy man. They are substantially made-, with part glass roof, painted three coats. PRICES AS UNDER— No. 1, S-ft. 3-in. wide, 4-ft. long, 3-ft. 9-ln. high ... £3 10 O „ 3, 3-ft. -wide 6-ft. long, 4-ft. 9-iii. higli ... 5 10 O BBOODBBS BXTBA. No. 2 Brooder can be used with No. 1 Rearing-house, but it is not advisable to crowd. Drawings and Specifications for large Rearing-houses, heated by slow combustion stoves and circulating pipes supplied at a reasonable charge, and quotations given for the construction of same. aCt()Matic inoi'katohs. 49^ Prices quoted are f6r cash, with order, or o(i receipt of priced iiivoicfe. Oar low prices do itot allow siifficieut Tiiargin for credit, or expense of collection. The drawer of all our lucubators, except the 30 e^g size, <'au be altered by a simple arranfjernent to hold ^oos^ efffjs. All Incubators are tested before beiag seut out. and are made in the best ujauuer possible. Cases of best pine s-taiued (waluut) and varnished, having- highly finished brass: mountings. With ordinary care they will last al Mefime. , ' All goods arc packed and p\it on' Midland, or London and North Western Kailways free. I'aicking cases lo be returned. 50 HATCHING COMPETITION. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! WHOLESALE HATCHING^COIPETITIONS, FaQciers, wishing to compare the quality and percentage of chicks hatched in these Improved Incubators, with those hatched in any other machine, or under hens, can have «ggs hatched at 3d. each. CONDITIONS. Thirty or sixty eggs to be sent, carriage paid, together with a deposit of 7/6 or 1-5/-. The name of sender to he written upon each egg, commencing at or near one end Viiid writing towards the other. On my part I undertake to return the chicks safely packed, together with ihe xhelh ihp.y camfi out iif, unhatched €ggs, if an J, and change. Should a fair percentage of the eggs prove fertile, 3d •each will be charged for chicks produced and change will be returned for unhatched eggs. Should mine, or only a very small number prove fertile, 1/- will be deducted to covei- expenses incurred, and the balance will be returned with the eggs. All eggs broken or spoilt, through accident in- caie- lesness on our part, will be paid for at the rate of 3d. each over and above the 3d. deposited. Ladies or gentlemen availing themselves of this offer shiiuld make arrangeinenl.s before sending eggs, as only a limited number of machines can be used for this purpose. The sender or his agent may at any time between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. inspect the eggs and see that they are under artificial incubation. If anyone can shew how 1 can possibly cheat in these competitions, I shall be pleaM-d if they will suggest further safegiiiirds. AS THE REVOLUTION IN flFtifieial^lDeobatioD IS BOXJISTD TO .A-iF^PECT THE "WHOLE -wo:rxj1d, BinEHII!fl|l,'eOLO|llflL'BP'FOaElli|t MANUFACTURERS Should lose no time in opening commnnications -with. a. view to taking^ over the PATllfT*EIQHTS For their respective Countries. ADDRESS— LOUGHBOROUGH, ENGLAND. Ai,ff,;v.