248 PROFITS IN POtfLTKt. 



of pure-breds, the hens may be crossed with cocks of 

 another breed, and then most of the advantages of cross- 

 breeding will be realized. In this use of pure-bred cocks 

 which we recommend, no male bird should run with the 

 same flock more than two years. If he is healthy and 

 vigorous, and his progeny of the first year take strongly 

 after him, in form as well as feather, he may well be 

 kept the second year to run with pullets of his own-get. 

 After three years the blood of the original flock will be 

 reduced to one-eighth; after four years to one-sixteenth. 

 One may have a flock of hens which have been carelessly 

 bred, and into which no fresh blood has been introduced 

 for years. They are small, hardy, active, fair layers, 

 good sitters and mothers, and get their own living all 

 summer but the garden suffers. How can the flock be 

 improved? This, we conceive, is the question which 

 may be put by ninety-nine in a hundred of the keepers 

 of hens in the country. The answer suggests itself, but 

 first we should know whether eggs, or broilers, or full- 

 grown fowls for market (chickens in autumn or winter) 

 pay best. The farmer must treat his flock of hens 

 exactly as he would his flock of sheep or his herd of 

 cows, or other stock; that is, secure the use of full-blood 

 males having the desired characteristics. Thus, if he 

 wishes eggs, he will buy cocks of someone of those breeds 

 famous for the number of eggs the hens lay. Size and 

 beauty of eggs may be an object, or simply a large num- 

 ber may be most desirable. The French breeds and the 

 Spanish usually have large eggs; Leghorns, eggs of 

 medium size; Hamburgs lay many but small eggs; 

 while all are persistent layers of beautiful white eggs. 

 The half-bloods, as a whole, will take after the pure 

 breed in a good measure, and in so far may be said to be 

 an improvement upon the old stock. The second year 

 the three-quarter bloods will closely resemble pure-bred 

 ones; some will only be distinguished from pure-bloods 



