BREEDING FOR POINTS. 141 



readily, than with inferior hens of the same breed. Sup- 

 posing inferior Brahma hens were added, and the cockerel 

 be a good breeder, he may very likely " throw " (a word 

 which just expresses the happy-go-lucky plan which hinders 

 so many amateurs) some well-marked pullets from these 

 poorer birds. The novice thinks this is a gain. In some 

 sense it is, since he may have some to sell ; but from the 

 breeding point of view it is a loss of ground and time, since 

 it puts back his strain. He will breed again from some of 

 these birds, and then they will throw back to the poorer 

 parent, and he has lost ground. At this stage he can only 

 afford to breed from the best he has. 



From these original hens or pullets there will be the 

 very first season some pullets equally well pencilled. How 

 many in proportion depends : if the mothers were well-bred 

 and the cockerels also, and they are not too distantly 

 related, it may be many ; if the mothers were the pick from 

 inferior parents, few ; but some there will be. If there are 

 really many, from either hen, it shows the mating itself has 

 " nicked " well, in which case the male bird should be kept, 

 for he is valuable. From this produce we select a few of the 

 best pencilled pullets, next to this point looking to the 

 combs and other points as before ; if there are one or two 

 which to the pencilling add good general quality, these 

 should not be parted with at any price ; at this stage the 

 owner cannot afford to do so. 



There are now several ways of mating these pullets. 

 They may be put up with their own father, an excellent 

 plan if he has bred well ; or with the cock from the other 

 pen, also a good plan if he has bred well ; or with a selected 

 cockerel from the other pen. If there are enough, and 

 there is room, all three plans should be adopted, and four 

 or six pens mated up for next year, which will provide 

 families enough to go on with for a long time; and, 



