42 Farm Poultry 



is particularly true if he is assured that these 

 birds, which, in a sense, have become pets, are 

 quite certain not to annoy either the members 

 of his own household or his neighbors. There 

 are probably no breeds of fowls so well suited 

 to have the liberties of a small farm or lot as 

 these slow-moving Asiatics. 



Laying qualities. The laying qualities of these 

 fowls are considerably below the average, and, as 

 a rule, are not to be compared with those of the 

 more active fowls which originated in the coun- 

 tries bordering on the Mediterranean. 



The useful qualities of animals reach the high- 

 est state of development when one quality* is de- 

 veloped at the expense of others. Experience has 

 shown, as already stated (p. 31), that it has not 

 been possible to develop in the same individual or 

 breed two or more useful qualities to the highest 

 stage of perfection. The two most highly prized 

 useful qualities in our domesticated fowls are meat 

 and egg production. When one is unusually well 

 developed the other is lessened in value or impor- 

 tance, so that both are never developed to the great- 

 est extent in one individual. Admirable illustra- 

 tions are seen in the development of animals that 

 are highly prized for the production of meat or of 

 milk. In no instance has the best milker been 

 most highly prized for meat production. A similar 

 condition exists in the poultry world. While the 



