428 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



"In selecting fowls for their egg laying qualities and to im- 

 prove along this line there are several methods that can be fol- 

 lowed. To the breeder of fancy fowls the trap-nest is the most 

 reliable and accurate, but to the general breeder and to the farmer 

 this method causes too much work. Therefore, they must resort 

 to other methods. It has been proven that pullets raised from a 

 hen that has proved herself a heavy layer, will, as a rule, be heavy 

 layers themselves, but we must remember that the male has a 

 great influence on the flock, so to make a greater improvement in 

 the building up of the flock we should breed these pullets to a male 

 that is known to be from a heavy laying strain, and the produce 

 from this mating should increase in their egg laying qualities, and 

 so by careful selection on and on we cannot tell just what limit 

 can be reached. My own experience shows a little what can be 

 done. From a start about six years ago with trap nests I found 

 my flock was giving me an average of about 115 eggs per year. 

 By careful selection by means of the trap nest, I have increased 

 the average until last year it was 200 eggs for the flock, and some 

 individuals produced as high as 237 eggs for the year. Am still 

 striving to beat that this year. This shows something of what 

 can be done by proper selection; but as I have said before, the 

 average farmer and general breeder cannot spare the time to look 

 after trap nests. However, what breeder or farmer's wife or 

 daughter is there who likes fowls and works with them, who does 

 not know just about how 'Old Speckle' and many other hens on 

 the place lay? By a little close observation you can nearly always 

 tell the hens that are laying the most eggs, and those that lay for 

 the longest period. Right here let me say, always save eggs from 

 such hens for setting purposes; keep them separate from all other 

 eggs, and when the chicks hatch, mark them so that you will know 

 them, and be sure and keep the best of them for your next sea- 

 son's breeders. If you will do this and keep it up for a few years, 

 always remembering to use a male that you know to be from a 

 heavy laying strain, you will surely reap your reward by the in- 

 creased production of eggs that is sure to follow, also by the uni- 

 formzity of your flock that always is the result of close culling. 

 Cull closely, but try not to discard the laying hen. A little time in 

 observation around the nests at laying time will soon show you 

 which hens are doing the laying, and if I am not mistaken you 

 will soon find in your flock a large number of hens that are scarcely 

 ever seen on the nests. These drones are the ones that are eating 



