An Artificial Mother

Mr. T. B. Hogers, the famous poultryraiser at Wethersfield, has ' ' sensed the precise thing," and has invented what. be calis an " artiüoial mother " for the rearing of young chickens. He esti mates that about 50 per cent, of chickens hatched are lost by suftering from cold, by being stepped on by their mother, by cats and other animáis, and in various other ways. He also finds that chickens to be profltoble should be hatched in the winter. He has hatched three broods in nine weeks witb one lien - that is, lie takes away the chickens as soon as hatched and places fresh eggs under the hen, and in this way keeps her busy propagating chickens. Mr. Kogers' next move was to get some invention that would take care of the chickens when hatched, and he has construeted what he calis an "artificial mother." Tuis is a box with two compartments, and about three feet by two and a half feet wide. In the rear is a lid covered with wool, which shuts wiihin nine inches of tho bottom ; this is cuf off from tbe fnnt part by a strip that can be raised on hinges. The front is protected by lattice work, giving p'.euty of air and light, and on the outside are tin troughs, in which gravel, food and water are placed. The chickens can easily get their bilis into these, and when they have got their ñll they can rini under the wool-covered lid, which is so soft and comfortable that they imagine they are imuer the old hen 'swings. Mr. itodgers had in oue of these boxes yesterday a brood of twenty one chickens, sixt en of which were hatched last Thursday, and five on Hunday. They werc all as lively as crickets, and sceincd pcifectly at oase. He took them to tbe Springfleld poultry sliow on the noou train, where they will undoubtedly attract a good deal of attentioü. Mr. Kogers deala exchisively m light Brahmas. and thinks they are the best layers, as wel. as the most proiitable fowls for the t.üilc. - Ji'irtfdi-d Courant. Farmers about Jojnstown, Pa., fear that the great number of wild pigeons in that vicinity will remain long enougli to eat all the seed to be sown.