186 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



for business. They are of a less " flighty " disposition, though 

 always active and intelligent. Yon will observe the lung, rangey 

 back, and the extreme depth of body from back to keel, and par- 

 ticularly the large fluff. The whole structure indicates at a glance 

 a large development of the egg-producing machinery, and a great 

 capacity to supply this machinery with digested food. There is 

 a decided effeminate, motherly appearance to a good layer, in 

 direct contrast to the rooster-headed, thick-necked hen. She gen- 

 erally is very active, inquisitive and friendly, which all speaks for 

 great nerve development and intelligence. According to the corela- 

 tion of parts, she will have a large Comb. The condition of the 

 comb is closely related to the strength and vigor of the oixg, ma- 

 chinery. When it comes to a question of utility, if the standard 

 type disagrees with natural productive type, change the standard. 

 The laws of God are superior to the laws of man. 



"When selecting the breeding-pens for co:g, production it is a good 

 plan to mark the fowl which do not meet our idea of a good laving 

 type in size, shape, color and constitutional vigor, with a dab of 

 crimson paint on the shoulders. It makes them look odd, indeed, 

 with their " prison stripes," but it positively prevents their getting 

 in the breeding-pens again undiscovered. This rigid selection for 

 several years has had a wonderful effect upon the quality of our 

 flock, which leads me to believe that there is as much, or more, in 

 the type or particular strain of a breed, as there is difference in the 

 breeds themselves. A man who is careless about selecting — who 

 does not know, or does not care what he is breeding from — will 

 lose in three years what it may have taken a careful breeder many 

 years of painstaking selection to acquire. High production is the 

 result of careful selection, proper feeding and good breeding; all 

 must so hand in hand. It is a made condition. It is like a height 

 gained by hard climbing. The tendency is to revert or drop back 

 to the original level. It is only upheld by the hand of man. 

 Lucky is the man who is wise enough to buy the results of the 

 skill of a good breeder, and wiser is he who maintains the advan- 

 tage gained and continues to improve upon it. 



VETERINARY DEPARTMENT. 



Question. — How is the best way to exterminate vermin in a 

 hen house and keep them out? 



Mr. Van Dreser. — I should advise removing the whole interior 

 of a hen house and replacing it with new, and stuff the four-inch 



