218 BREEDING. 



a breed. It is quite probable that some of our fowls that are 

 now termed pure breeds, have some remote tincture of impure 

 blood in their veins such fowls as do not " breed to a feather " 

 but in the absence of any proof of this, we cannot refuse to 

 sanction their alleged purity. 



IN-AND-IN BREEDING. This is a branch of my present subject 

 of great importance, yet the limits of such a work as this, do 

 not allow of that elaborate and full exposition of many points 

 that they ought in justice to receive. In the first place, I may 

 give as the foundation of a great principle in nature, that all 

 animal life deteriorates by a close consanguinity of relationship ; 

 hence, a fresh strain of blood from time to time, is absolutely 

 necessary ; but we must not go beyond the pale of the particu- 

 lar species for such change of blood. Fowls Avill do very well 

 bred in-and-in for a few years, but it is not recommended to do 

 so over four or five years, when a change should be effected by 

 procuring cocks, rather than pullets, of the same breed, but 

 from stock that bear no relationship to your fowls, unless it be 

 very remote. 



How TO PREVENT A MIXTURE OF BLOOD. In a previous 

 allusion to this part of my subject, I stated that the eggs of 

 fowls would not be pure till the second or third litter is laid, 

 after the pullets are removed from impure stock, and placed 

 with roosters of their respective breeds. This refers to cases 

 where actual breeding has taken place with cocks of other 

 breeds or varieties. Since writing the previous remarks here 

 alluded to, I have noticed that Dr. Bennett, in one of his letters 

 to me, corroborates my view of the case, and desires me to 

 correct him in this matter. He says : 



"I am in error on pages 199 and 200 of my boot, in relation to 

 breeding. Please correct it In order to preserve distinct breeds, the 

 fowls must be kept entirely separate, over one entire litter certain, and 

 it is better to have them separate two months, at least, before breeding." 



Dr. B. states in his work, the " Poultry Book," that the 

 fowls will be pure that are raised from eggs laid immediately 

 after separation, provided they are impregnated by a cock of 

 the same breed as the hen, and this is an error, and what he 

 refers to as wishing me to correct. Instead of the eggs being 

 pure in such cases, they are tinctured to the third litter, more 

 or less, with impure blood received from the impregnation of 

 eggs while previously running with males of a different breed 

 or variety. 



