Arizona republican., 1898-02-25

and you do not care to market poultry,
 I believe the Black Minorca is the best
 breed for you. If you wish a white
 egg producer that has yellow skin and legs, the largest strains of White and Buff Leghorns would be my next
 choice. For a hardy winter layer of
 brown eggs, the Langshan stands at 1 the head, but the dressed poultry can
 not be sold to advantage, or at all, in
 some markets. It is, however, ex- cellent for your own table.
 l Black legs and black pin feathers ! are usually objectionable I cannot honestly adv1se every farmer to keep
 nothing but pure bred poultry. I
 would like, however, to see every one
 use pure bred males of the breed best adapted to their purpose. If the poul-
 trymen of this country could be induc- ed to do this, the sale of pure bred
 poultry by breeders and fanciers
 would be ten times what it is today,
 and not only that, but many would
 succeed where they now fail.
 Let those who want to follow the
 business of raising pure bred poultry
 do so. Let them do the improving,
 and where they succeed, buy your
 stock of them. The man who raises ten acres of potatoes does not select the seed that will produce the hand somest blossom.
 There is a legitimate field for fan ciers who sell exhibition and breed ing birds, but those wno succeed are a small number compared with the great number who can make money producing eggs and poultry for mar ket. Skilful breeders that raise but few, like the artist on canvas, does best to produce a few choice artistic productions that bring fancy prices. but the breeder who engages exten- | sively, if he breeds the stock demand ed by the practical producers, and is | sufficiently well known, can sell all | he can raise at good price and make !! the most money.
 The male is the most important part | of the flock. I am out of all patience with this idea of buying the meanest | cheapest specimen from a pure bred l flock. Get the best, having in the greatest excellence the qualities which 1 you desire, and pay what you must to get this.
 A bird at from $2 to s5 is a wise in- vestment, even to grade up common stock. If you reckon the difference it makes in the increase in egg pro- duction alone, you will be convinced The size and marketable qualities of the whole flock depend greatly upon the male used.
 Producers of cattle, sheep and hogs for market have found they usually get stronger animals and better mar ket stock by producing first crosses and high grades. By using a male of the same breed year after year, we secure grades that are hardy and have the qualities of the pure breed. If males of different breeds are used each the stock soon becomes very The more they are mixed in this way the worse they become By crossing two pure breeds that are very dissimilar we secure an increase in hardness in the first cross, as we'll as the special qualities in each breed in high degree. The feeding power is also greater, and more of the chicks will live. These first crosses, the males especially, should not be bred from, but marketed.
 Choice fowls that have been weak ened by overlooking, confinement and overshowing, that would not give sat isfaction if bred pure, may sometimes be used with safety for crossing. liar dy stock that has been on the farm for five or six years is too good stuff to throw away. I would advise no one to discard it entirely and begin | with pure bred stock that they know nothing about. I am fancier as well as student of the commercial end of the industry. I admire and have for many years bred for beauty, but, hay ing seen the disadvantages as well as the advantages of fancy stock, I give you this advice.