A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



bred birds of whatever kind you intend to 

 devote your energies to, as a foundation on 

 which to work. 



Many people seem to think that a thor- 

 oughbred means show specimens a great 

 mistake. You may have a bird which has 

 been hatched from an egg laid by a cham- 

 pion, but which develops a wry tail, comb, 

 wattles, or ear-lobes all out of proportion, 

 or numerous other faults which disqualify 

 for show purposes. These are the birds 

 which swell breeders sell for a dollar or a 

 dollar and a half. They are, in all prob- 

 ability, from the best of stock, and judi- 

 cious mating may enable you to rear winners. 

 " Blood will tell" is nowhere more positively 

 demonstrated than in bird or animal culture. 

 It is better to buy faulty birds of a celebrated 

 strain than a perfect " accident," for its 

 progeny is nearly sure to show some, perhaps 

 all, the mongrel of its ancestors. 



The law of improvement demands a study 

 of faults and shortcomings rather than good 



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