3 July, 1919.] Starting the Poultry Farm. 393 



where the progeny are from, the same individual mother as well as by 

 the same father, failino; which the term should be disallowed. It would, 

 perhaps, be of benefit if all registered breeders annually recorded their 

 punches and brands. 



It is infinitely better for the beginner to start with half-a-dozen of 

 the best than to commence breeding operations on a much larger scale 

 with more or less moderate quality stock, and an advantage in favour of 

 buying stud stock in preference to eggs is that stud eggs may then be 

 produced on the farm instead of being sent by rail. Another point is 

 that the stud birds may last for several seasons. 



A question frequently raised is " how many pullets can be raised per 

 breeding hen?" The best way to arrive at an answer is to assume that 

 60 — 65 chicks will be hatched per 100 eggs set down, and after allowing 

 for deaths, culls, and the fact that half the mob will be cockerels, the 

 breeder should raise 25 pullets. In other words, he may count on 

 getting one pullet for every four eggs set, and as the breeding hens will 

 generally lay four eggs per week, one pullet per week per stud hen should 

 prove a slightly conservative estimate. The age of the stud stock is of 

 some importance. It is not desirable to breed from birds during their 

 first laying season until they are fully matured", which means to say, 

 not until the birds are twelve months old, and then only provided that 

 they possess sufficient stamina. Many a promising flock has been ruined 

 by continued " pullet " breeding, with subsequent degeneration and loss 

 of size and vigour. It is also preferable that the male bird be either 

 a year older, or younger, than the hens he is mated with. 



It has frequently been found that for competition purposes some 

 excellent layers are obtained from very early hatched pullets (fourteen 

 months' old) mated to a twelve-month cockerel, but the percentage of 

 culls is usually high, and this mating is not recommended except in the 

 case of experienced breeders who thoroughly understand their business. 



The beginner is also apt to make the mistake of buying a fresh cockerel 

 every year from a different breeder " to get change of blood." Provided 

 that he has received satisfaction in the first instance, he would be better 

 advised to patronize the same breeder, as the breeder himself has to 

 make certain changes in his matings, and so is in the best position to 

 supply cockerels likely to suit stock supplied in previous years. The 

 reliable stud breeders keep very careful records of their various blood 

 lines, and so know Avhat is most likely to suit their own stock. 



Line Bkeediivo. 



Line breeding is described by Mr. H. K. Lewis as the breeding of 

 individuals which are selected from, or restricted to, a single line of 

 descent; being the process of breeding within one family or within a 

 limited number of families, all of which have a common ancestry, and 

 represent similar types. The result is the rapid purification of the 

 pedigree and the fixing of a type. There are two advantages (1) a 

 greater certainty with which results may be obtained, and (2) the 

 progeny of line-bred birds are backed up by strong hereditary influences. 

 The weakness of this system is shown, however, when the matings are 

 effected by means of a chart alone, without the most careful examination 

 being made to see that stamina is being conserved. 



