46 



'A LITTLE JOURNEY 



Mr. Sheppard and his Superintendent selecting some choice "Famous" stock 



The key to successfully carrying on this work of breeding in line is in the 

 words: "Here begins the real work of the breeder, since these mates now 

 taken from group 2 must be most carefully selected to type," and again "are 

 to be rigorously selected true to type as before." Not only must they IK- 

 selected true to type, but they must be selected with a special view to full streng- 

 th and vigor, and every specimen rejected that shows the least bit of weakness, 

 or lack of vigor. If the breeder will but lift himself to that high level of 

 "selection" he need have no fear of incurring the painful penalties of inbreed- 

 ing. Mr. Wright himself is strenuous for the most painstaking care in select- 

 ing the breeders. When considering the introduction of new blood into the 

 strain, by an out-cross, he says: "In all cases birds from the cross should 

 be selected for further breeding with unusual care, with even most rigorus 

 severity, because the newly introduced tendencies have to be guarded against. 



That selecting with "even most rigorous severity" is where the many will 

 fall down, especially in selecting with a view to the utmost of strength and 

 vigor; if poultrymen would only surely do this last there would be compara- 



