200 FARMING FOE LADIES. [chap. ix. 



the cock amorously calling the hen with his 

 "glou-glou" note of love, and she coyly 

 responding with her " pur" of reciprocal af- 

 fection ; both making occasional leaps in tes- 

 timony of their mutual satisfaction. 



He is usually allowed to have four or 

 five mates, but if confined to two, it will be 

 found that the hens will generally hatch a 

 larger number of chicks, and, what is of still 

 greater importance, produce them stronger, 

 and consequently more likely to live, than 

 if he were indulged with a larger number. 

 Neither is it necessary that he should be 

 in constant dalliance with his dames ; in con- 

 sequence of which it is by no means uncom- 

 mon among cottagers to maintain only one 

 cock, which they lend to each other for a 

 visit of a few days. Should this plan not be 

 adopted, and that a cock is kept for attend- 

 ance on the hens, we should say, that when- 

 ever they commence hatching, the sooner he 

 is fattened and killed, or sold off", the better, 

 for he will then be not only useless, but 

 troublesome to the hens, and dangerous to 

 their future chicks. 



Turkeys are in their prime for the table 



