CHAPTER II 



EGG BREEDS OF THE DOMESTIC HEN 



AGRICULTURISTS may, for convenience, classify 

 fowls as to their useful qualities as 



Egg Breeds, General -Purpose Breeds, 



Meat Breeds, Fancy Breeds. 



While this classification gives considerable 

 information, in a general way, yet it should not 

 be inferred that the distinctions between these 

 classes are constant or very pronounced. In 

 other words, a classification that is based on 

 utility does not make use of positive character- 

 istics. The distinctions are relative and therefore 

 quite variable, as the usefulness of any breed will 

 depend to a large extent upon various conditions, 

 as food, care, climate, etc. Again, the so-called 

 general -purpose fowls form a connecting link be- 

 tween those which are most highly esteemed as 

 egg-producers and the heavy, clumsy Asiatic fowls, 

 whose most useful quality is the production of 

 large bodies that are highly valued for table use. 

 From the nature of the classification and the varia- 

 tion of the fowls from the standpoint of usefulness, 



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