POULTRY ON FARMS. 99 



Thirdly, attention must be given to improvement of the 

 stock in laying properties. It will be seen in Chapter VIII. 

 that any property may be developed greatly in a few 

 generations by careful breeding ; and it will also be seen 

 why the utmost fecundity must not, and cannot, be expected 

 from the stock bred by fanciers. These breed for the 

 points of the show-pen, which have their own use in 

 preserving the distinctive races ; but in seeking these chiefly, 

 laying properties are apt to take a second place. Still the 

 fecundity is there, and capable of development like any 

 other property. Probably a hen which lays less than a 

 hundred eggs per annum does not pay ; but it has been 

 proved, over and over again, that an average of one hundred 

 and fifty per annum can be obtained by those who will breed 

 for it,* and the process is as simple as possible. 



The first thing, on many farms, will be a rigorous 

 weeding out of all the old stock. Mr. Fowler has left it on 

 record that in one case where this was done, and a ''general 

 slaughter " made, the change to young fowls alone made a 

 difference of 20 per annum, without any special selection 

 of birds. But selection must follow. Laying breeds may 

 be selected,! or, if there is a prejudice against " pure 

 breeds," there is a very simple plan which every farmer will 

 understand in a moment, and which has been repeatedly 

 tried with good results. Watch the neighbouring market, 

 and find out who brings in a good lot of eggs in winter. 

 Buy his eggs, and set them ; and a fairly good laying stock 



* This number has actually been considerably surpassed, as stated in 

 Chapter VII., by many large American poultry-farmers. 



f The most successful direct cross we ever heard of in actual fact was 

 the produce of two Light Brahma hens with a black Hamburgh cock. 

 From six of these chickens and one of the Light Brahmas were produced, 

 from Jan. 1st to Dec. 3 1st, 1879, a few more than 1,500 eggs ! This is 

 considerably over 200 each, and is the highest number from half-a-dozen 

 fowls we ever heard of. The Brahmas were themselves good layers. 



