108 THE HOME POULTRY BOOK 
bred to the original male the next season and 
again the following Spring as mature hens. Then 
additional hens may be secured of the breeder from 
whom the first purchase was made and mated with 
a cock descended from the original male or with that 
very bird. This plan will prevent too close inbreed- 
ing. 
The cockerels used for breeding ought to be prac- 
tically counterparts of their sire, this being an in- 
dication that the points which make the latter 
desirable are well fixed. For the rest, the amateur 
breeder must learn by experience and study how 
to make his matings in order to get the best results. 
By keeping a copy of the Standard of Perfection, 
costing $2.00, close at hand, he will be able to learn 
just the shape, weight, color and markings which a 
perfect bird of his favorite breed would have to 
possess. This will be his guide. 
It often happens that hens bred strictly for fancy 
purposes will not lay as well as strains developed 
for utility. Egg production is neglected in order to 
secure certain physical characteristics. This is nat- 
ural and the amateur should not expect to develop 
a strain along both utility and fancy lines. More- 
over, the fancier wants to give his chickens every 
