The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-15

insisting that the stock shall give every
evidence of perfect health. However, such
a practice frequently causes disaster. es-
pecially when brother and sister are bred
together. 1t is far safer to use birds
which are not thus closely related
The poultryman who IL interested In
producing pullets which are heavy layers
has a decidedly complex problem on his
hands. His only safe guide Is knowl-
edge Of the actual laying ability OF each
female he uses for breeding purposes. and
also OF the laying ability OF the mothers
OF the male birds. This can only be
learned by using the trap nest. There
seems to be no definite laying type. no
particular physical conformation by which
the good layer can be identified. This
system OF record keeping undoubtedly de.
mands the expenditure OF much time and
effort. but AZ present we know OF no other
method by which rapid Improvement can
be secured.
Where such trap nest records are not
available We must do the next best thing
and use the strongest birds for breeding
since strength is most essential to the
heavy layer. We know that the weak
lings cannot stand the strain OF convert
ing large amounts ~ raw material into 4
concentrated product. Therefore. II all OF
our birds are strong We stand better
chance OF having "A goodly proportion OF
high producers. Il should also he kept
in mind that most experienced egg farm
ers prefer hens which are long In body,
wide across the back and with deep.
roomy bodies. Also. that the hens which
inoulted late last fall and were ragged
and pale shank,d late In the season were
probably good layers last year.
Where egg records and pedgrees are
available these should be used 10 the
greatest extent OF late years much at
tention has been paid TO the question Of
inheritance Of egg production and many
important facts have been asCertained
The most notnhl" work of this Kind Is that
II DR.. Pearl % the Maine Agricultural
Experiment station. He has mad. a care
ul study OF the laying records and pedi-
grees OF thousands OF individuals and his
Conclusions have recently been publicly
PRESENTED. The main points are as fol-
ows:
/. The record OF the egg production OF
a hen. taken by itself alone. gives no
definite indication OF the probable record
Of her daughters.
g Differences in egg producing ability
are, IN spite Of the above, certainly In
hert,d.
D. High productivcness may be inner
tied 10y daughters from their sire. indie
pendent OF their dam
L. High laying ability liz not directly
Inherited by daughters from their dam.
8. Mediocre or poor laying ability may
be inherited by the daughters from either
sire or dam, or both.
Certain other Investigators are not In
accord with these findings. holding that
high producing ability is directly inner
ted. 10 n considerable degree. from the
dam alone With this argument we need
not he deeply concerned. as in both cases
The desirablity OF using heavy layers as
breeders Is indicated, either to produce
males which may sire heavy laying
a % lao la a. rAl al
lets.
Referring again to pr. Pearl, we are
given the following advice:
l. Select the breeding stock first on
the basis OF constitutional Nigor and vital
ity. This point has been fully emphasized
above.
2 Use as breeders only such females as
are known to be high producers. since
only from them can we secure cockerels
capable OF transmitting heavy laying
qualities.
g. Use as breeders only such males as
are known to be the sons OF high pro-
duc!ng hens. since only from such males
can high producing daughters be expected
4. Pedigree the chicks fully 40 that
both sire and dam are known.
s. Make q numb OF different matings
in order to establish several distinct lines
Of blood
s. Line breed those lines which produce
4 satisfactory percentage OF high pro-
duc!ng pullets.
BY adopting tho above plan IN its en-
tlrety one will gradually weed cut the
low producing lines OF blood and build up
1 flock in which the tendency to high
production IL deeply rooted. This means
work. lots of it, but there In no doubt
that the time will be wei! spent, that the
results will make the effort truly worth
while. Only by the adoption OF well con-
sdere,l, definite breeding plans can any
real progress be made. Haphazard breed
ing docs non in the main accomplish much.
Exceptional individuals may appear from
time to time but II these are not isolated
and !nteligently used they Will have but
little effect in raising the flock average.
II will he observed that n the above
plan 10 used It will he necessary to re-
tain the breeding stock. both males and
females, until the actual performance or
the daughters is ascertained, Otherwise
the good breeders may be sacrificed and
the work have to he started over again.
The value Of tested breeders which arc
known TO produce uniformly productive
pullets cannot be estimated, When these
have been identified the battle is nearly
won.
Copyright, 1918, BY the George A. Nc
Dewitt Company
A.Au,v Park Launches SChe me.