CHAPTER. ¥ 
ON BUILDING A STRAIN 
character to go into all the details of establishing 
a strain. We can only refer our readers to 
articles on in-breeding which appear in “ Cage Birds.” 
These are published from time to time and they go 
fully into the subject. There are those who say in- 
breeding is wrong. It is if improperly followed, but not 
if conducted on rational lines. We are so convinced 
that in-breeding is the royal road to success that we say 
anything may be achieved in the way of stock-breeding 
by following out the principles as laid down by our 
contributors. 
How is it possible to have a strain unless one does 
in-breed? The mating of birds gathered from here, 
there and everywhere will not create a strain. All the 
great breeders of Roller Canaries in Germany held their 
own strains, strains which were famous for different 
qualities of song. 
Woerz, a great breeder, says :—‘‘ Inbreeding is the 
shortest way for the safe inheritance of certain, nay, of 
all peculiarities, and for the improvement of the strain. 
No breeder can do without it. By its means can faults 
or imperfections connected with the strain be quickly 
remedied. But one must keep the in-breeding within 
bounds, and the greatest care has to be taken in the 
choice of breeding material.” 
328 
ihe is not space in a small book of this 
