POULTRY. 553 



be relished by them, and make an excellent substitute for fresh grass. Hens will also 

 pick up a great quantity of grass and other seeds of plants in summer, such as timothy, 

 meadow fox-tail, etc. Grain serves as a substitute for such seeds in winter, but if the farmer 

 would sweep up his barn floor more frequently, and throw the sweepings into the hennery 

 for the fowls to pick over, they would greatly relish the treat. It is customary with many 

 poultry breeders, when confining fowls to a limited enclosure, to keep alternate yards sown 

 with something green, such as oats or grass, to supply green food for the fowls, they feeding 

 upon one yard while the other was attaining a sufficient growth for them, to which, when 

 ready, they were turned while the yard previously occupied was again sown for another crop 

 of green food. A liberal supply of gravel, pounded shells, etc., as previously recommended, 

 should always be kept by them. 



Breeding Fowls. The first and second year of the hen is the best time for laying, 

 although many hens three or four years old will lay quite well. Hens two years old and 

 over make the best sitters. The tendency of Asiatic fowls is to breed to lighter colors, 

 therefore the males should be as full colored as possible, although discretion and judgment 

 must be used not to have too violent a contrast in the sexes. As a rule, heavily penciled 

 males will get heavily penciled chickens, but if the saddle and neck-hackle are very dark in 

 color, the chicks will be liable to be spotted, but cocks with dark hackles, and hens with 

 lightly penciled hackles will produce rather light penciled chickens. It is commonly supposed 

 that the male bird has most influence upon the color of the chicks, the comb, and many of 

 the fancy points of the breed generally, while the hen influences the form, size, and the useful 

 properties principally. 



It is also found with regard to crossing breeds, that the cockerels in the progeny will 

 generally resemble the male parent to a greater or less extent, while the pullets will resemble 

 the hen. In mating birds, the best results are obtained by having both parents as near 

 perfection in form, etc., as possible, but if there are any defects, the defects on one side 

 should, as a rule, be counterbalanced as far as possible by a high degree of excellence on 

 the other, avoiding serious defects. Mr. Wright says: &quot; If it is desired to increase size, a 

 cross with a hen of foreign breed should be employed, and the same if it be sought to 

 introduce a more prominent breast, or any other peculiarity of shape; but if it is the plumage 

 which is to be modified, it is the male bird who should be thrown in. In breeding the cross 

 out again, or in retaining any new characteristic, so as to form a fresh variety, the same rule 

 must be kept in mind. 



We believe that much disappointment and uncertainty in the results of crossing has 

 been owing to a neglect or ignorance of this simple principle, and breeding from either sex 

 indifferently. If this be done, the result will often be worthless, and in every case the time 

 consumed will be much greater than is necessary; but if scientifically conducted, we believe 

 crossing would improve many of our older breeds in size, hardihood, and utility, without in 

 any measure detracting from those qualities for which they are valued.&quot; 



On breeding pullets of the last season s hatch it is better to mate them to adult cocks, 

 and in breeding from hens of a year or two old, young cocks should be chosen; this gives a 

 stronger and more vigorous progeny. Although profitable fowls may be obtained from 

 crossing different breeds, yet we believe it pays better to keep pure breeds of poultry; and 

 in order to keep the breed pure, they must be kept entirely separate from others. 



Incubation. It is thought by many of the most successful poultry breeders, that the 

 best results are obtained when the nests are made upon the ground, or where there is a suf 

 ficient quantity of earth under the nests to afford a slight moisture for the eggs. Eggs in 

 such nests are more liable to hatch a larger proportion of chicks, and the chicks thus obtained 

 are more apt to show a more vigorous constitution, than those hatched in a dry nest; besides, 

 vermin is less liable to be troublesome in such cases. When making a nest upon the ground, 



