Evening star., 1916-07-30

strong, healthy, vigorous breeders, free
from any trace of weakness or disease,
| up a paying flock of layers. And the
summer is the time to begin making
preparations for such a foundation. To
many poultrymen. even those of sew
| eral years experience, chicken Is
only a chicken, and such men seldom
stop to think that the way in which a
| chicken is raised determines it's use
| fulness as layer or breeder A ma
5ority of the men who raise poultry,
however. realize pretty fully the fact
that strong foundation is as neces-
sary in flock of poultry as in a build
ing. They realize that it doesn't pay
| to devote lot of time, energy and ex-
! pense to making the superstructure
building is weak.
Given strong, sound breeding stock
and the knowledge required to main
ters and to feed the fowls properly,
success is reasonably certain. Care of
the chicks during the summer-care to
see that they are properly fed, properly
tention they need-can hardly fail to
result in giving the poultryman a
flock of pullets in the autumn that will
go into the laying houses in good con-
dition and ready for profitable win
ters egg production. Weak. ailine pull
lets do not lay: therefore it is generally
safe, all things considered, to select
next seasons breeders from among the
winters heaviest and most continuous
, layers.
A question that is sure to trouble
poultry institute lecturers, judges and
officials at the fall and winter fairs
ana SHOWS and successful poultrymen
generally. is Which is the best breed
OF towls?' One Of the best answers
10 this query was that of a diplomatic
snow official few years ago, who said
that choosing variety or breed of
boui.ry in Vas much the same as select
ing wife-largely matter of taste.
IL might be better to say that the
best breed is the one with which the
inquirer believes he can do best With
,art nu. nount poultry raising depends
ilke the rather slow, solid, substantial
breeds like the Plymouth Rocks. Or
pingtons, etc. while others prefer the
iiehter. quicker and more nervous
breeds such as the Leghorns. One
thing is certain-no poultrvnnan viii
ever succeed with fowls of a breed he
doesn't care for N
In this connection It NAV he we'll
enough to say the popular belief that
Dig hens are required to produce large
eggs Is wrong. Careful records of the
weights of eggs laid by the various va
rieties in the national egp-lavinp con-
tests show that the eggs produced bv
Leghorns, Anconas and Campines ay-
erage just as large as those produced
6y Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and
Orpingtons. Here, again, selection and
breeding seem to be more itnporta Mt
than the breed itself.
1t is true, however that some breeds
are better adapted to certain purposes
and to certain conditions than others.
The smaller, or Mediterranean. breeds
OF poultry correspond to the dairy
breeds of cattle. They are valuab BILE
for what they produce, not for what
they bring on the market. They are
especially adapted to commercial egg
production. They are hardy and active
and can be kept In large focks They
STAND confinement well II given deep
eggs, which bring the highest prices on
the eastern markets. On account of
their small size the cost, per bird, of
feeding and housing is less than for
the larger varieties
For the person who wants a variety
that will make good showing on the
table. as well as at the egg basket. or
the poultry businAss, one of the larger
varieties naturally will be selected.
| Market poultrymen tell US that the best
market fowls have clean legs and light
sought because the pin feathers do not
show SO plainly. There are several
breeds which fulfill these requirements.
To decide between them is largely a
matter of taste.
| There is no better way to aid the
enemy than by allowing filth to abound.
lousy hen eventually becomes a dis
eased one.
No green food is better enjoyed than
fresh lawn clippings, which are treat
| to both old and young stock.