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MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
HOW TO MATE FOWLS.
It is during the fall and early winter especially that fowls
do not receive the attention they should have. It is quite an
important season for them. The old hens are in the midst
of the moulting season, and it is then they need especial
attention and care. The young chicks are by this time
nearly as large as the old ones, and the pullets should all be
put up in a department by themselves, and thus be separ-
ated from both the old and the young roosters: it would be
an excellent idea to have the old hens by themselves, or they
could be put in the same department with the pullets, or
anyway, so as to separate them from the young, ambitious
roosters, and give them a season of rest for eight or ten
weeks. It would be much better for them, and they would
be in better breeding condition the following spring. But De
sure when you separate them  in this way that they
have a good roosting place, as the nights grow cooler, and it
is essential that they have a warm resting place.
Do not mate up the breeding pens too early; nothing is
gained by it. It is better to wait until they are well formed,
and if the breeder is observing and notes down which are
the earliest and steadiest layers among his flock, and studies
the characteristics and condition of the fowls he intends to
use for breeding, then he will be able to mate them with
good results.
The first of January is early enough to mate up the breed-
ing pens for all practical purposes, but it should not be
delayed much longer than this, especially when early chicks
are desired. Of course a few early chicks are desirable for
nearly all breeders to have, for they want a few, choice,
early chicks to take to the fairs the following fall and win-
ter; but nothing is gained by having any considerable num-