The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-04-27
contention in the choice Of breed To-

commercial poultry keeping SeeioS 10
be between White Leghorns kept for
egg production and Plymouth Rocks.
White Nyancottes. Rhode Island Reds
or other general purpose fowls. At the
present time the latter type OF fowls
is more popular upon the general
farm. The Leshorns are gaining In
popularity. however. and will probably
continue to do so as the use OF incu-
bators and public hatcheries increase.
The LeShorn has 4 much smaller
carcass, and hence there IS not so much
income from the sale Of young cock
ere,s and old hens AS matter OF
fact, the smaller size OF the LeShorn
fowl is not as much OF all arSumcn,
AGAINST the breed as IS commonly sup
posed. for LeshornS eat less FOOD. oc-
cupy less house room and when not
confined are better hustlers and secure
8 larger portion of their living OF the
range than do the larger breeds o.
chickens. \ more important objection
to Lcshorns IS that artificial incubatorS
and brooders arc necessary 10 keep up
the flock Again. Leshorns are wild.
nervous and thinly feathered. aud II
Ill treated and pAo-iy housed the egg
Weld, especially in winter, will be less
than that Of the general purpose fowl.
LeSho-ns when kept in large numbers
by those who give careful attention to
poultry keeping can be made very
profitable, but for the reasons just Civ
en- the farmer or the beginner at pou'-
try keeping should De slow in taking
up this breed.
Strain or Family Important.
In the mind OF those who are not
experienced in animal breeding too
much stress is laid upon the breed ana
no, sufticien, consideration given 10
Individuality Of particular families or
strains Of the breed The reason for
this viii become clear when 1t IS eS-
planned that the majority OF our com-
mon breeds Of poultry have originated
in the last forty years and have been
selected chiefly for feathers rather
than fox meat, egg yield or general
visor. This does not mean that pure
bred chickens will be any less pTac-
teal as meat and egg producers than
mixed or scrub chickens On the 9th
or hand. standard bred poultry are bet
ter from any viewpoint than scrub
chickens, but one strain OF 4 breed
may be vigorous growers and excel
lent layers. while another dock "S the
same breed whose ancestors aave oeen
careless;y selected with regard to pTae-
ticai points may be poor iE these qua!'
tiles
ES~ LAYING tests Of few lots from
different breeds OF fowls are Of little
value in determining the worth OF
breeds. for It is quite possible that a
good strain Of the poor breed may e1-
eel O poor lot Of the best breed and
the results Of such tests be e1act!y op-
posite to the real truth For this rea-
son I consider the majority Of the
breed tests as published By poultry
papers anu government experiment
stations as Of little value.
In Australia, however. the govern
ment has conducted egg laying tests
on such q large scale and with pens
entered from hundreds OF different
breeders that the average Of their re
suits IS worthy Of more consideration.
The ranking Of the three leading
breeds in the Australian tests IS Single
Comb White Leghorns. Black Orpins-
tons, Silver Wyandottes- II should be
stated, however. that Barred Plymouth
Rocks, White Wyandottes aad Rhode
Island Reds. the favorite general pur-
pose American breeds. are practically
unknown in Australia
Principles Of Breeding Simple.
The art Of breeding fancy poultry Is
less complicated than many old breed
ers would have US to believe. Va
rsous so called systems Of breeding
have been advertised and much talk
ed about, but any breeder having
thorough knowledge Of the desirable
points In the breed and who breeds
from the best birds has about Of the
system necessary.
@Inbreed;nS~ means the mating OF
individuals that are related. but be-
cause Of the analogy taken from hu-
man relationship deep seated popu-
lar prejudice exists against this Gus
tom. InbreedinS IS the shortest and
quickest way Of intensieyins any
characteristic. The reason FOR this IS
because outside qualities are not
brought in 70 interfere with family
traits; hence the inbreedins Of fowls
or other animals that have tendency