1072 



THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



The different varieties of Bantams are classed among the or- 

 namental fowls, and are chiefly desirable as pets for the chil- 

 dren. The illustration on this page represents a pair of Jap- 

 anese Bantams. 



Improve the Common Fowls. The farmer who can not 

 aiford to stock up with fowls of pure blood should do the next 



best thing be- 

 gin with common 

 f o w 1 s and im- 

 prove the stock 

 as he goes along. 

 This can be done 

 at little expense. 

 The first year 

 mate the best of 

 the common 

 hens and pullets 

 with young 

 cocks of the pure 

 breed best suited 

 to your purpose ; 



the second year mate the same cocks with the best of the half- 

 breed pullets ; the third year get young cocks that are not 

 closely related to the old stock. By adhering to this plan of 

 keeping only the very best of the cross-bred pullets each year, 

 and using only pure bred cocks, the common stock can be crossed 

 out of existence in a few years, and in their place will be a 

 stock of fowls that for all practical purposes will be just as good 

 as those of the pure blood. 



Choice of a Cock. In choosing a breeding cock be sure 

 that he is in good health, comes of healthy parent stock, and is 

 free from deformity of any kind. Pay some attention to sym- 

 metry i. e., choose a well-proportioned bird. A mature cock 

 that seems to be all legs and neck would not be desirable for a 

 breeder. Never buy or keep a cock that has a cowed look and 

 runs upon the approach of other cocks, but select one that car- 

 ries his head up, steps as if he owned the whole poultry-yard, 



JAPANESE BANTAMS. 



