Mr. Editor : A friend of the writer, who is beginning to take a lively interest in poultry-growing, propounds the following questions, and desires answers thereto :

1st. "What months are considered most favorable for having young chickens hatched out ?"

2d. "What kind of food is best for promoting their rapid growth?"

In answer to the first interrogatory I have to say that for this latitude, and with the necessary facilities for protecting the young broods against the storms and inclemencies incident to the season, I esteem the months of March and April as the best for having them come forward; while in regions farther south I should prefer to have them hatched out at least a month earlier. Now, this preference for early hatching is predicated, in part, upon the supposition that somebody will look after the welfare of the young birds, and not allow them to be given over entirely to the mother's care. Where they are to be abandoned entirely to their mother, and to struggle and scratch their way up as best they may be able, I think the better plan will be to allow the hens themselves to determine the times and seasons when they will bring forth their broods. Chickens hatched in the early spring, where properly protected and tended, are generally more vigorous and healthy, grow more rapidly through the summer months, and make larger fowls than those arriving in later portions of the breeding season. And, furthermore, pullets which come in the early spring are so well matured that they will commence laying in the ensuing fan, and lay through the winter, if they are duly fed and protected.

From my own observation I am satisfied that chickens coming in the early spring are less liable to that pestiferous affection called gapes (a disease which destroys thousands annually, and which is caused by a little red and thread-like worm which is supposed to be produced through the spring rains or night dews, and finds its way, through the food or drink of the young chick, into its windpipe, and there remains and feeds till the lungs of the little bird are perforated and life is destroyed), than those which come at a later period, when the chilly night dews hang heavy upon the rank grass, and the genial sunshine of May unbars the prison doors of that insect-world, which, evoked from its long torpor, is vitalized into an active ministry of evil as well as of good.

In this immediate connection it may not be inappropriate to give the results of an effort to raise summer-hatched chickens during the current year. Notwithstanding the writer had doubts as to the result of the experiment, doubts created as well from his own past experience as the testimony of others, he nevertheless procured and put into the charge of an intelligent and careful farmer, early in the month of June last, a lot of vigorous and superior young hens and a cock of one of the most popular breeds. Early in the month of July broods of chicks, ranging in number from nine to fourteen, began to come forth from the eggs of these fowls. Though vigorous and sprightly when first taken from the nests, in the course of ten days or a fortnight these chicks began to droop and grow feeble and finally perish, one or two a day, until the most of them had disappeared. This result brought vividly to mind the statement of an English editor, who, in replying to a correspondent who questioned him as to the cause of the fatality among his summer broods, said that while he was unable to explain the cause or to relieve his embarrassment, there was a generally prevalent opinion among English henwives that "The chicks which are hatched when there's making of hay Are not apt to thrive, bat to perish away".

In answer to my friend's second question I have to remark, that I esteem bread crumbs (Indian meal, mixed simply with water and cooked either in an oven or in the embers of a wood fire, and then crumbled up), wheat, broken rice, and cracked Indian corn as the best food for chicks when first taken from the nest. English poultry-growers use oat and barley meal extensively, but never having tried it, I am unprepared to speak of its merits. Cooked food is more nutritious and more digestible than if fed in its raw state, and where convenient should be used. As the chickens increase in size, add cooked fresh meat, chopped fine, three or four times a week, and be certain to allow them the widest possible range, when the weather is favorable, where they can have unobstructed access to grass, and scratch among the leaves for bugs, worms, and insects. The more you can induce your young birds to eat, the more rapid will be their growth and development. Both variety and exercise are needful to make your chicks heavy feeders and vigorous in health. And be sure to see that they have free access to fresh water whenever they wish it. Fowls that are delicate feeders can not be fatted rapidly. Now, bear in mind that the above suggestions are made mainly in reference to young fowls.

If adult fowls were fed in the liberal manner indicated, many of them would soon grow too fat for the requirements of the egg basket or the purposes of maternity. E.