APPENDIX. 289 



selecting their stocks from any other than the most approved 

 breeds of fowls. Generally, the system of breeding poultry 

 is conducted in the most loose and unscientific manner, and no 

 real dependence can be placed on other than the pure stock. 

 By selecting it, the articles early maturity, large size, and 

 liberal produce, are surely to be depended upon ; whereas, by 

 indiscriminately adopting impure stock, there is no security 

 that these will result. 



Under the loose system of breeding referred to, it is equally 

 impossible to keep up, as it is to establish, a distinctive breed of 

 poultry. To conserve the purity of any variety, so that " like 

 will produce like," in appearance and properties, is of -the 

 highest importance is, in fact, (next to the securing of these 

 in a distinctive shape,) the grand aim of the scientific breeder. 

 There are no errors, or indications of the work of chance, in 

 the law and order of the Great Ruler of the universe, as these 

 apply to either the animal or vegetable kingdoms. The farmer 

 may as well collect a miscellaneous list of seeds, and strew 

 them athwart his soil, in the expectation that an excellent 

 crop of corn should be produced from them, as the poultry- 

 breeder depend on the heterogeneous admixture of mongrel 

 breeds of fowls, to produce improved specimens. A chance 

 appearance may be made among them, to be sure, that might 

 look promising, in the same way that one ear of corn might 

 appear among the farmer's produce ; but, unlike the ear of 

 corn, the " bird of promise " can never be depended on to pro- 

 duce its like : the absence of mathematical exactitude in the 

 animal composition forms an organic error in it, which nothing 

 can obviate, so far as itself is concerned. It may produce all 

 or any of the kinds, or crosses, concentrated in itself, but none 

 of them in their pure distinctiveness : the leaven of deteriora- 

 tion will always be found a ruling element in their composi- 

 tion. 



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