30 WYANDOTTES. 



Some apologists of in-breeding, point with pride to certain 

 strains of horses, cattle, sheep, swine and fowl, then refer to the 

 pedigree and inquire triumphantly, " How can you produce in any 

 other way, in so short a time, such splendid results? We, the 

 advocates of this system, have practiced it openly; we have produced 

 winning stock at the shows and have made money. That is enough. 

 What is possible, practicable and profitable, is advisable." That is 

 a short plea, and it does not cover the ground or close the case. 

 The in-breeder is like the man who insures his house and then sets 

 it on fire. When the fire gets under strong headway, he calls for the 

 fire engine; so in the other case there is a call for fresh blood. But 

 the home is liable to burn down ! No matter it is a quick way of 

 turning it into money. 



Speaking of in-breeding, an English authority says: "There is 

 always a starting point for this system. Reference is always made 

 to some wonderful sire as the great progenitor. Now, let us inquire, 

 how was the great progenitor obtained ? Was he the result of 

 several turns of in-breeding? Was he, designedly or accidentally? 

 What came of the union of two unrelated specimens, male and 

 female, both possessing more than ordinary amount of good qualities, 

 such as hardiness, symmetry, innate vitality and prepotency? People 

 ought to know how these wonderful first parents came about, for 

 they desire to come into possession of others. The fact is patent; 

 these extraordinary specimens, that stand head and shoulders above 

 their fellows, are the products of a long course of breeding and 

 selection to be traced back thousands of years. They crop out here 

 and there, sometimes unexpectedly; are not numerous, and if used 

 according to the laws of nature and common sense, they tend greatly 

 to accelerate improvement. If used in schemes of incest, they are 

 about lost to their race, in the long run." 



This subject would not here receive so much attention were it 

 not for the fact that the evils of in-and-in-breeding are becoming 

 more and more apparent every year in this country. And this is 

 the way that decadence is effected. An enterprising, or we may 

 say fortunate, fancier gets in his possession a very remarkable male 

 bird, having the gift of what is called prepotency in a high degree, 

 and he calls this valuable stock-getter Duke of Essex, Excelsior, or 

 what not. Very well he ought to have a good name. He breeds 

 this fine cock with the best hen he can possess. Very well a fine 

 lot of chickens. The next year he puts this fine cock with his own 

 pullets, and the next year with those that would be his grand- 



