44 WYANDOTTES. 



decrease in the fertility of the hens, and, also, in the prepotent 

 functions of the male; or, in other words, grossness of size, in male 

 or female, is tantamount to a decrease in production, and in fertili- 

 zation of that production. 



This is not our first time in giving such an opinion to the 

 fraternity, for, every spring, when suggesting something on mating 

 or egg production, we deplore and condemn grossness, as being 

 antagonistic to precociousness and fertility, and our views have 

 passed unchallenged. The same law holds good among the larger 

 species of animals and plants; it is nature's law of distribution, or- 

 ganization, compensation and deduction. Our Asiatic and American 

 classes would be more valuable as egg-producers and stock-getters, 

 if a pound or more would be taken off their standard weights. We 

 suggest this advisedly and disinterestedly, as we are not at present 

 breeding any of the varieties of either class. 



It is well known on this side of the Atlantic, to what extremes 

 English fanciers have indulged, in the past decade. The excessive 

 development to which they have brought Asiatics, Plymouth Rocks 

 and Wyandottes, has been marked by a large decrease in the num- 

 ber and fertility of eggs. The same complaint is heard throughout 

 the land regarding the failure of Cochin eggs to hatch well. A 

 similar complaint arose in this country a decade ago, and while 

 there was a premium on abnormal size and weight. Mr. Isaac K. 

 Felch, whose experience in poultry is second to none on this conti- 

 nent, favors natural weight in the large varieties, as he has witnessed 

 hundreds of cases, showing vast improvement in production and 

 fertilization, since extra points for weight have been abrogated in 

 the Standard. 



Since the English fancier has taken to the breeding of Plymouth 

 Rocks and Wyandottes, size is a leading fad, and is detrimental to 

 plumage and other points. The coarseness of their Plymouth 

 Rocks, almost verging on the Asiatic, shows the English predilection 

 for excessive development. In the same manner, the fanciers of 

 Wyandottes are breeding them to individual types,. and to suit indi- 

 vidual judges. A small English work on Wyandottes before us 

 says that " The types of Silver Wyandottes, as seen in England, are 

 as numerous as the colors of the rainbow." Again, it says : " The 

 failings or faults of Silver Wyandottes, as found in England, are 

 really very numerous so numerous, in fact, that one seldom sees a 

 good bird. The reason is, that English judges and breeders have, 

 until recently, been going for an entirely wrong type throughout." 



