The Pulaskian., 1921-09-01

the difference between profit and loss in poultry keeping. Retarded laying, therefore, is one of the things to be guarded against whether on large or small scale.
 Pullets that have grown continu- ously from matching to ,p1aturity al- most invariably make earlier layers and better layers. Moving from place to- place and other disturbances should be avoided.
 Normally, laying begins when growth ceases. The bullets that fail to become egg producers at maturity, instead of being assets, become dead expense. Egg production depends on the activity of the reproduction or gans which should begin at or before the cessation of physical growth. Any disturbance affecting the habits, nu- triton or comfort of bullet at any previous stage of life, may retard laying at maturity and, therefore, is to be guarded against. Shifting from place to place or change of diet may constitute a sufficient disturbance to retard laying. In fact, these are com mon methods in use among poultry fanciers to retard the laying of pull lets which they desire to keep in prime condition for exhibition as bullets. It follows, therefore, that the disturbances encouraged by fan ciers for exhibition bullets are among the things that must be avoided by poultry keepers whose object is to develop bullets for early laying.
 The fact to be borne in mind is that the main factor in egg production is activity of the reproductive organs and the development of those organs is continuous from the earliest stages of the bird instead of being, as was once supposed, at or near maturity. Pullets about to begin to lay are more sensitive to disturbances and, there fore, require greater care in handling. Every poultry keeper who is grow ing bullets for egg production will, therefore, need to exercise care from the time the chicks are matched until they become mature hens, to make sure this growth is regular and not subject to checks and disturbances.
 Poultry will pay as big a per cent as any other farm product if given the proper attention. In the spring, big plans are made by many and more chickens are matched than can be properly taken care of later or when other work comes along. 4 small flock r0eH taken care Of IS bet ter han Q Jorge fIock neglected. Carelessness during the late summer or early fall has often been the direct cause in making the flock unprofit- able The same common sense and ability used in running the other branches of the farm or a business can make the poultry flock turn from a loss to a profit, and at no time of the year can this ability be used any more than with the growing flock, the egg layers of next winter. Culling can be done all through the year, but at no time is 1t more profitable than at this season with the growing flock. All the small weddings should be culled out at once as they will be a great drawback if left in the flock. It saves feed, gives the stronger bird more room, and allows those that remain to become more vigorous.
 At this season cockerels should be selected for next springs breeders and placed by themselves with plenty of run if possible. None but strong, rigorous specimens should be se- lected.
 Too much stress cannot be laid on overcrowding during the late sum- mer and early fall months. In few nights all the good work done since matching can be undone. Be careful