150 Farm Poultry 



breeds formed by crossing well-established breeds. 

 It is of doubtful economy to cross pure -bred 

 fowls of well-established races, except for special 

 purposes which will rarely be of service to the 

 general farmer. It may happen that skilled poul- 

 trymen will find it to their advantage to cross 

 distinct breeds for the production of a specialty 

 which has become quite famous. Successful 

 practices of this kind are comparatively few, 

 and are of foremost interest to the specialist. 

 Whenever pure breeds are crossed it is for the 

 production of a merchantable product, and the 

 use of these fowls for the production of pure- 

 bred stock is therefore lost. 



Breed pure-bred stock. The question is fre- 

 quently asked whether it will pay to breed pure- 

 bred stock. If the answer is made candidly and 

 honestly it must be given as both affirmative 

 and negative. It certainly will pay to breed 

 pure-bred stock if proper food, care and man- 

 agement be given. It probably will not pay the 

 average farmer to invest in expensive pure-bred 

 stock and to keep this stock in the way in 

 which the fowls of mixed breeding are generally 

 kept throughout the country. As the pure -bred 

 stock had received superior advantages in order 

 to bring it to its greatest usefulness, so must it 

 receive advantages which the common stock of 

 the country does not receive if it is to remain 



