Selection and Improvement 157 



ever one depends on the sale of fowls for breed- 

 ing purposes for profit, it becomes necessary to 

 enter into competition with other breeders at the 

 great poultry shows, This necessitates a depart- 

 ure from the purpose for which farm fowls are 

 kept. 



Farmers and others who maintain flocks for 

 usefulness should not forget the importance of 

 selection. Remember that all improvement is 

 largely due to selection, and that after the flock 

 is well established it can be further improved 

 for the purposes for which the breeds are kept 

 by rigorous selection, skilful breeding and im- 

 proved feeding. It is possible for every farmer 

 to improve any breed of fowls for his purpose. 

 This of course implies productiveness under cer- 

 tain conditions. A breed of fowls, or a flock 

 of fowls of a distinct breed, may be brought to 

 a high state of perfection by a poultryman, con- 

 sidering the conditions under which he keeps 

 them, and under more favorable conditions they 

 may be still further improved. 



