The Columbus journal., 1904-05-18
POULTRY
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When man first domesticated the
fowls Of the jungle he had no thought
of the wonderful things that were to
develop from them through the sct-
ence Of breeding. It II altogether
likely that the first distinct breeds
came into existence gradually and -
q result Of the differing conditions OF
the countries in which they were
raised. It is believed the first fowls do.
mesticated were those Of India. From
that point they we're taken east, north
and west. In the beginning they had
all one general ret Of characteristics.
But In the course Of time the fowls
OF China developed In one way. the
fowls Of India In another and the
fowls OF the various countries Of Eu-
rope In other ways. At first no At
tempt was made By man to direct
this development, that Icing . result
OF place and conditions. So at the te-
ginning of poultry history We find .
few distinct breeds that have since
been named after the locality from
which each came. Thus. from the
north Of Asia We have obtained the
Langshan. from the south OF Asia
the Brahma, and from Europe the Leg
horn and the Dorking. These were
pretty good breeds. when We remem-
Der they were the result Of breeding
without an object During the last
20 years . great many new breeds
have been created by fanciers. who
appreciated the possibilities locked
up In the fowls and which might be
brought out BY selection and breed
ing. Doubtless the coming hundred
years will see an enormous increase
In the number Of distinct breeds Of
poultry and . general improvement
In the special points for which each
Is bred.
Every farmer should be . breeder
to . considerable extent. He may not
originate new varieties, In fact should
not waste his time In trying to de-
vel0p these. but he can do the same
thing. in fact, that il. develop strain
OF birds of more than the common
value. Many Of the breeds We now
have are no better than the ones out
of which they have been developed.
their distinctive markings in color
and form being about the only quail
ties their parents did not possess.
But the farmer may well develop
strains that viii prove earlier matur.
ing. better laying. healthier birds than
were their immediate ancestors. The
laws OF breeding are to be studied to
advantage and when understood win
open the way to both pleasure and
profit. The neglect Of the laws Of
improved breeding is responsible for
much Of the poor stun now to be
found on our farms. We have to say,
however, that there has been . great
Improvement in the last ten years. at
least in the matter Of meat producing
birds.
The farmer that has . flock OF 10
hens can well afford to adopt some
regular system for his breeding oper.
ations. II he has eggs in view he can
adopt . system OF culling out all OF
the poorest egg producers from year
to year. BY 30 doing he would in .
course Of years have at hand . flock
that would be . paying investment
Yet there are farms on which the hens
have not improved for half . century.
principally because there has been
no care taken at all in the breeding.
The eggs for sitting have never been
selected. and the result has been .
reproduction Of the average quality
of the flock. Attention to the matter
of breeding will pay every person that
expects to raise fowls.