Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-01-12
SEPARATING THE SEXES.
PuIlets and CockereIs Thrive Better
When Kept Apart.

When Kept Apart.
Upon almost all farms it is custom
airy to see the chickens of both sexes
running about together, and little at
tention seems to be paid to the fact
that when pullets and cockerels are
separated both thrive infinitely better,
says a poultry writer in the London
Gazette. OF course keeping them apart
may involve a certain amount of work.
but any extra labor is well repaid by
the improved growth and the better
stamina of the chickens Of both sexes
There are several reasons for advo-
eating the separation of the sexes at as
early an age as possible, and it will be
found that both the cockerels and pull
lets thrive much better when such a
plan is adopted. When they are per-
mitted to remain together the cockerels
will worry the pullets good deal, be-
sides which they will fight among
themselves for the mastery of the
yard. When the cockerels are by them
selves they will all live in peace. and
little difficulty will be found in keep
ing large numbers together; but, on the
contrary when there are any pullets
present they will fight, frequently caus-
ing one another a great amount of
harm. Especially is this the case with
birds that are to be kept for stock pur-
poses, as, should the comb or wattles
become damaged or deformed through
fighting, it may seriously affect their
sale. 1t is important to separate the
sexes Immediately they are large
enough to be distinguished, because
once the cockerels have commenced
fighting they will continue doing so,
even after they have been taken away
from the pullets.
The little workers of the soil have
much to do with agricultural prosperi-
ty or misfortune The work of the
common earthworm in nitrifying the
soil can hardly be estimated; the army
of beetles Which live on decaying
vegetation contribute much toward
furnishing a valuable humus for the
soil, while the ants, the pocket gopher,
the mole and the cutworm are recog-
nized enemies which the farmer knows
but too well. These pygmy soil work
ers have to be reckoned with for good
or evil
Woods afiame with color as though
the Great Artist were using them for
a palette; here flash of red from
some sentinel maple, massed by the
yellow and old gold of the elms and
poplars and the greens, russets and
maroons of the oaks-a pageant of
splendor and beauty which vanishes al
most as you gaze; a flood red sun
and moon peering dreamily through
purple haze on a dying summer; west
winds freighted with the odor of prairie
fires and falling leaves; on all things
the quiet and languor preceding the
long winters sleep. 1t is October.
The quiet call of beyy of quail in the
weeds by the roadside, the trumpet call
of cranes and wild geese Ell route from
arctic swamp to southern lagoon, the
cav of the lazy crow, the subdued CHR
rup of a few belated robins and black
birds, the stridulous squawk of a jay
and the chilly song of the chickadee-
all there is left of June's bird orches-
tra-this is October music. A deep and
quiet pool in the river fiecked by the
fallen leaves, rapid above and one
below; vigilant, hungry, gamy, here
lies the king game fish--the black bass.
You cast lively club into the pool
q swirl, mad rush; hear the music of
the reel! You bend your split bamboo
almost double-you have him! He
fights gamely for liberty, but he is
yours If you land him right. There he
lies a-quivering on the grass, two
nounder. This is October sport.