156 POULTRT-CRAFT. 



" Such a mating can be depended on to produce ninety-five per cent of first class 

 breeding and exhibition females. The males from it will be of the same color as their 

 sire not exhibition birds, but useful for breeding choice females. 



"Do not use males with very light necks and tails in these pullet breeding pens, as 

 these defects will be reproduced in the progeny in pullets with splashy light necks, and 

 blurred poorly barred tails. 



"Pullets of even color, and distinctly barred all over, are what is desired; and with 

 careful selection of the breeding stock, it is not difficult to get them. Such pullets are 

 rarely, if ever, produced from Standard colored males and, if they look well, are not 

 reliable breeders. 



"To PRODUCE MEDIUM DARK BLUE BARRED MALES AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD : 

 put at the head of the breeding pen the very finest exhibition male of Standard color, 

 even serrated comb, broad concave back, deep full breast, small spreading tail, orange 

 yellow legs, evenly barred all over and to the skin. Do not use a male with any serious 

 defect, even if he scores high. 



" With this male mate females of the same line of breeding as himself; not necessarily 

 akin to him, but females whose sire and dam's sire were high scoring Standard colored 

 birds. These females should be medium dark in color, not smutty ; but evenly barred all 

 over and to the skin, with good combs, forms and legs. From such a mating ninety-five 

 per cent finely colored males suitable for breeding and exhibition can be produced. The 

 females will be of the same general character and color as their dams, too dark for 

 exhibition, but useful for breeding choice males. 



" By this special mating system, and by careful selection of the breeding stock, the 

 Barred Plymouth Rock is sure to improve each season, and the longer they are bred in 

 line the more perfectly will their Standard qualities be brought out." 



216. Mating Brown Leghorns. A. C. Smith's rules (specially 

 contributed for this book) . 



The methods and means that must be employed to mate Brown Leghorns successfully 

 for exhibition specimens of both sexes, vary with the style of bird the breeder desires to 

 produce. Most breeders use what is known as the double mating system that is, a 

 separate mating for the production of each sex. Some breeders use the single mating 

 system, depending upon one mating to produce exhibition males and females. But the 

 growing tendency in this, as in almost all varieties of fancy fowl, is toward the double 

 system. The single mating may be used in this variety with far more success than in 

 most others. 



While it can hardly be said that each system has its advantages, it can be said that 

 each system has its place. The best system is certainly the one that will produce the 

 greater per cent of exhibition birds. Which system will do that, depends upon the style 

 of male and female described in the Standard extant. The present demand is for what 

 may, in general, be described as a dark male and light female. Such birds are, from a 

 breeder's standpoint, direct opposites. Far better results may be obtained in seeking 

 these diametrically opposite types by making a distinct mating for each sex. 



The Double Mating System. 



Mating for Exhibition Males. [THE MALE]. The mating for exhibition males 

 should, first of all, contain as fine an exhibition specimen as can be reared, bought, or 

 borrowed and I am inclined to say, stolen. The most important feature of this bird 

 (if one feature is more important than others) are, undercolor, which should be dark and 

 deep ; a good metallic stripe in hackle and saddle ; a concave shaped back, giving the 

 graceful touch to every part of the bird; an even plumage, i. e., showing the same shade 

 of red in all sections that call for that color ; and sufficient station to infuse the bird with 



