PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 99 



vessels, lungs, digestive system, breeding organs and the 

 albumen or "white" and) the yolk of the eggs. As the 

 pullets grow in size, if they begin* to become crowded 

 in the colony houses at night, divide the flocks so as to 

 give the birds plenty of room. Keep them comfortable 

 in every way but do not tempt them to form habits of 

 idleness. Encourage their foraging, if necessary, by 

 occasionally scattering grains widely over their grassy 

 ranges. See that they are not compelled to endure pelt- 

 ing storms, harsh winds, chilliness, dampness, foulness, 

 impure air, unwholesome food, or filthy or stagnant 

 drinking water. Let the pullets remain on free 

 range as long as practicable before laying, then remove 

 to the quarters which will be their home through the 

 fall and winter. If by forcing the growth and feeding 

 stimulating rations the pullets are induced to begin 

 laying early in September, their bodies- are liable to be 

 stunted, their eggs small and laying to be interrupted 

 by a fall molting of the feathers. In such cases the 

 fowls do not ordinarily renew egg-production until the 

 following spring season. Steady growth, maturing and 

 perfecting all parts of the pullet and of her breeding 

 organs, will prepare her for egg-production which, be- 

 ginning in October, should continue under favorable con- 

 ditions through the autumn 1 , winter and following spring. 

 If pullets are to be selected for future breeders, their 

 egg-laying records should be carefully kept, as already 

 suggested, during their first laying season. 



SOFT BOASTERS. 



Sometimes it is wise to depart from the usual cus- 

 tom and do things differently fromi the ordinary way. 

 Chickens hatched in spring, reared through the summer 

 and marketed in the autumn, commonly bring only or- 

 dinary prices, the supplies of dressed poultry for the 

 holiday trade being usually very abundant. In some lo- 

 calities it is practicable to procure a profit by reversing 

 the usual order of poultry practice. Chicks may be 

 hatched in late summer and early autumn", brooded dur- 

 ing the fall, grown through' the winter and 1 sold as soft 



