Of 





Improving Common Stock - 153 



for their fowls will derive much greater profit 

 from the best than from the ordinary. Improved 

 breeds are most remunerative when an abun- 

 dance of suitable food is provided, and the fowls 

 are given care conducive to the particular, pur- 

 pose for which they are kept. 



IMPROVEMENT OF COMMON FOWLS 



If it is desired to improve the fowls of the 

 farm without the outlay of any considerable time 

 or money except that which is to be given in 

 providing better food and environment, perhaps 

 the most satisfactory way is to use a pure-bred 

 male. This method enables the farmer or poul- 

 tryman to change at once one -half of his breed- 

 ing flock to pure-bred stock so far as influence 

 on the progeny is concerned. From the breeders' 

 standpoint the male constitutes one-half of the 

 flock, and under the average existing conditions 

 this will probably be a fair statement of the 

 male's influence. Undoubtedly there are many 

 instances in which the male's influence is very 

 much greater than the combined influence of all 

 the females of the flock. Instances of this kind 

 are more likely to be seen when the male is a 

 well-formed, strong, vigorous bird, from equally 

 well -formed, strong, pure-bred ancestors. If 

 these conditions have existed for several genera- 



