84 POUL 77? r- CRAFT. 



103. Breeds for a Breeder. One whose object is to do, ultimately, a 

 general poultry business, a principal feature of which shall be the sale of 

 exhibition and breeding stock, wishes, of course, to acquire special knowledge 

 of the breeds he is to handle, at the same time that he is gaining practical 

 general knowledge of the care of fowls, the principles of breeding, and build- 

 ing up his stock. Where there is already an established trade in high class 

 stock it is easy to learn which varieties are readily salable, and it is well for 

 the beginner, especially if his means are small, to select some of the varieties 

 most popular in his vicinity. Under such conditions a man with enough 

 knowledge of fowls to be able to keep them in health would, probably, find it 

 best in the long run to begin with first class stock, and each year secure expert 

 advice in selecting and mating his breeding pens until the time comes when 

 he can rely on his own judgment of the stock. All popular varieties are well 

 adapted to this kind of poultry keeping ; though because of differences in local 

 popularity all are not equally suited to all localities. A very correct idea of 

 the relative popularity of the varieties in any section may be had from the 

 advertisements of breeders in that section, from the classes in the poultry 

 shows, and from the statements of those familiar with the business. 



Another point to consider in this connection is the basis of the popularity of 

 a variety. Permanent popularity is always based on economic merit. If a 

 popular variety fails there, avoid it. Its popularity is sure to be transient. In 

 localities where thoroughbred fowls are not common, buyers are more eager 

 to have stock of a kind different from that of their neighbors than to have 

 better stock of the same kind. The spirit of rivalry and competition, which is 

 the basis of high prices for thoroughbred stock, is not developed until people 

 begin to be able to compare Standard merits. Under such circumstances the 

 wisest plan is to begin with fairly good birds, a good assortment of the 

 varieties most universally popular, and to sell this class of stock until it 

 begins to appear what varieties are destined to attain local popularity ; then 

 the breeder should make a special study of those varieties, secure some first 

 class stock, and prepare to meet the demand. 



104. Non-Popular Fowls to be Avoided. Beginners generally should 

 avoid the non-popular varieties. For nearly all these fowls there is a limited 

 demand, filled for the most part by a few breeders of long established reputa- 

 tion. A profitable trade in such varieties is very hard to build up. New 

 breeders also need to guard against being influenced by occasional demands 

 for varieties they do not keep. It has happened that two or three inquiries 

 coming at about the same time have led new breeders to put in stocks of birds 

 for which there was no sale. Most of the (apparent) demand for non-popular 

 varieties is what may be called a " fictitious demand," coming principally from 

 persons who have no intention of buying. 



105. What Most Breeders Can Do. Extra fine exhibition stock always 

 brings u big" prices, especially in the popular varieties difficult to breed to 



