6l2 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



attempt to do, at the same time, two things which are more or less 

 antagonistic; namely, to force a fowl to her highest digestive powder 

 by feeding her rich, appetizing foods to increase production when prices 

 are high, and to expect her to produce eggs for hatching that are normal 

 in their supply of nourishment and fully imbued with that mysterious 

 something called life. Under normal conditions in nature a fowl is 

 allowed to devote the larger part of the year to storing up energy in 

 order to reproduce in the normal manner. A fowl to be used for- breed- 

 ing should be selected far in advance of the breeding season, fed and 



Fig. 4. — A, A fine specimen of a physically and sexually strong male. Observe the 

 alert attitude, expression, and brilliant plumage as compared with B, the sexless 

 male, a large, clum,sy, inactive individual. 



housed with special regard to the laying of a large number of hatchable 

 eggs during the natural mating season, instead of being forced to heavy 

 production for commercial purposes during fall and winter. 



(5) Congestion and crowding of the breeding stock by keeping large 

 numbers on limited areas. Without doubt, this is one of the most serious 

 causes of loss of vitality. The modern system of handling fowls in large 

 numbers must be on extensive farms rather than on congested plants. 

 The land thus occupied should be used for the growing of fruit, grain 



