The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-07
Growth of Poultry Industry
BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The growth OF the poultry industry IN
the United States is one Of the marvels
OF the time. The American Standard OF
Perfection, as drafted and copyrighted By
the American Poultry Association. names
over a hundred varieties Of fowls. all Of
which are due 10 the development Of man.
except one. The original fowl was a come
~ wild thing. which made its home in
the jungle along with the rest OF pri-
meval creation. It is a long call from this
ancient fowl Of ungainly proportions to
the Iordly Langshan or the massive Co
chin Of the present day. but the ancestry
is certain. The relation can be traced
back farther than the time Of Christ.
Europe. Asia, and America have all con-
tributed to the development Of the poul-
try family, and the many and varied
strains that now exist are the result OF
centuries Of improvement. England and
America have been foremost in the work.
however, and the results accomplished by
the fanciers ia these two countries in re-
cent years have been nothing short Of
LhADle 4yN 4iAANl4ta NaAN t~A-A-t7 --A~N
fanciers have produced fowls OF ali sizes.
from the dimlnutive bantam TO the NAM
moth bronze turkey, one tiny bit OF
feathered vanity weighing only few
ounces. and the other a bulky fowl
weighing from forty 20 sixty pounds.
Results equally as wonderful have been
I accomplished in color effects. There are
varieties in red, black. brown, and white,
with nearly all possible combinations, be
sides bun and Andalusian blue. Not con-
/ tent with this. the fanciers have shown
that they can lace, stripe. spansie, or bar
/ the feathers of their birds in any way
/ TO satisfy their Individual fancy. In fact,
/ it seems that about all that is left for
/ them 10 do along this line is 10 put their
initials on the feathers OF their birds,
/ which. in the light Of what they have
already done. is not as impossible as il
may sound.
The pigeon fanciers have kept pace with
the poultrymen, and the results they have
/ obtained are truly wonderful. They have
/ given US the gorgeous fan tail, a little
! bird with tail big enough 20 almost TIT
/ its body out Of kilter In the case Of the
fan tail the fanciers have simply bred
TO a deformity The improved strain Is
merely a line-bred monstrosity. Some fel-
low found a pigeon IN his flock with tai
Heather turned the wrong way. He got th'
idea that a bird with all its tail feather:
turned the wrong way would be a goOc
/ thing so he sought q mate Tor his freak
paired them, and the fan tail was sooT
an fEf her Tartf
/ who thought he would ike 10 see a pigeon
with two rows of feathers turned th'
wrong way. We now have them witt
three rows, and the end seems far on
These fan tails have al the vanity o
Solomon. In their cOOps they drooI
about with very little show Of life. bu
when taken out they Immediately sprea'
their ample fans and strut about as pom
pous as you please When placed D.
front OF a mirror they try 10 Guido tn
image in the glass. and the attempt !
something laughable.
As a close second TO the fan tails com
the wonderful tumblers. There are tw
kinds. indoor and outdoor tumblers. Tn
= parlor performers viii turn sOmersauIt
in the most artistic manner. The out
door specie viii sail up In the air seveTa
hundred feet. and then fall suddenl
downward. turning over and over as the
come They right themselves before the
reach the ground. soar gkyward agair
. and perform the same astonishing gyra
p tions until you tire of the performance
The explanation of the tumbler is Simple
5 The breeder found a crazy bird. littl
fowl with an insane desire 10 turn owe
r continuously. He bred to the freak an
/ brought forth the clever tumbler to as
! tonish the old folks and delight the iittl
Z ones. What viii these fanciers do next
The successful fancier breeds for beaut
and utility combined. If he desires I
. create new strain he must be an imag
: NATIVE soul He must erect IN his mind
= eve an ideal fowl. and then perseyere
/, his endeavor 10 produce one like it. i
lots down a description of his vIsionsT
bird from beak to tOenaT. II he prefer
i, TO go by the standard. he win find Thu
! very exacting. Every detail is looked |
scrupulously: length and color Of coml
arch OF neck; length and breadth
q back: design and color OF plumsge, &c
&C Having decided upon an ideal,
mates his birds and starts his strait
l. picking from each brood the most perfe
I specimens and gradually working tOwal
n this ideal through generation after gener,
ton. 1t Is a sort of partnership arrang
ment with the Almighty; the fancier a
e tends to the matings. and sees that n,
+ are properly cared for. while the LOl
does the rest
2 It requires much time and patience
breed a line up TO anything approachiI
perfection, but once attained the rewal
is well worthy of the effort Single Dir
have sold in this country for as much
8. coo. while in England still higher pric
have been paid for individual specimen
The breeder does not depend aItogeth
upon fancy prices for individual bird
however. Tor his returns. He profits