100 PEOFITS IN POULTEY. 



is steady and sure profit. Of course a few will succeed 

 as breeders of fancy fowls, but the number is limited, 

 and they must have good judgment and perceptions, 

 with persistence and perseverance. 



ADVANTAGE OF CKOSS BREEDING. 



What breeds to cross is a problem which has not yet 

 been solved. Asiatic fowls were bred pure, and also 

 mated with Plymouth Rocks, which itself is a recog- 

 nized cross-breed, but an established one. The result 

 was that the cross-breed pullets and cockerels are several 

 pounds heavier than the Asiatic pure-bred ones, which 

 have had equally good care, feed, and other conditions 

 of growth. Those cross-bred chickens, instead of mak- 

 ing a great growth of stilts at first, and subsequently 

 laying a modicum of flesh and fat upon them, are 

 always ready for the table, and profitable to send to 

 market, after they are as large as quails. The first cross 

 makes, as a rule, the greatest improvement upon the 

 parent breeds, and a number of practical questions come 

 up, in regard to the subject of poultry raising, with the 

 view simply to produce the largest amount of meat 

 which will bring the highest price in the market. For 

 instance, as in the crossing of Brahmas and Plymouth 

 Rocks, or any Asiatics, with games, should the hens be 

 of the larger breed, or the reverse ? Which breeds 

 crossed will develop the greatest early maturity ? The 

 greatest weight at the most profitable ages ? The great- 

 est weight and plumpness at the best market periods ? 

 Which makes the best capons ? There have been a 

 good many half-made efforts to solve these and kindred 

 problems, but it can hardly be said that definite conclu- 

 sions have been arrived at. 



