162 Farm Poultry 



spring than are the good qualities of both. Some 

 authorities state that the poor qualities of both 

 parents are more likely to be seen in the offspring 

 than the good qualities of either. 



When we consider that the characters of the 

 parents that are most likely to be transmitted to the 

 offspring are those that are common to both parents, 

 we can understand that when the improved char- 

 acters of the parents differ widely the unimproved 

 characters that are common to both are most likely 

 to be transmitted. 



There is much controversy over the influence of 

 a preceding sire on the offspring. Some breeders 

 hold that in mammals if a pure-bred female becomes 

 pregnant by a mongrel she is forever after incapable 

 of bearing pure-bred offspring. Poultrymen, how- 

 ever, do not hold such extreme views. It is doubtful 

 whether it has been clearly shown that the breed- 

 ing qualities of a pure-bred hen have been injured 

 by a previous mating. 



Cross-breeding has rendered a great service 

 in the formation of new breeds. The Plymouth 

 Rocks and Wyandottes are familiar examples of 

 breeds formed by crossing well-established breeds. 

 It is of doubtful economy to cross pure-bred fowls 

 of well-established races, except for special pur- 

 poses which will rarely be of service to the general 

 farmer. It may happen that skilled poultrymen will 

 find it to their advantage to cross distinct breeds for 



