THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 159 



equal in appearance of those exhibited to me by 

 proud but ill-advised owners as "genuine Mi- 

 norcas." This was my sole piece of luck — the pre- 

 potency of the two birds I had purchased ; for every 

 breeder who knows anything- knows that prepotency 

 is luck and nothing more. By this time I felt my- 

 self equal to launching- out a little further, and again 

 sent East, this time for Minorca and Langshan 

 hens, or rather pullets, making - away with the barn- 

 yard fowls as rapidly as feasible with the exception 

 of two or three good mothers. But the time arrives 

 for me to call a halt, or my hobby will carry me too 

 far. 



There are a few details which may, however, 

 prove of interest. It is brains that count in the hen 

 business, not mere manual labor. Also in this busi- 

 ness, as in ranching, willingness to take advice is of 

 great importance. Two healthseekers, former Blue 

 Ribbon winners in the East, were of service to me 

 when I began carrying- off Blue Ribbons myself. 

 For the hen as such I care nothing; the fun of the 

 game lies in the scientific end. By this I mean read- 

 ing and eliminating, watching, studying; raising 

 birds which shall not only win premiums but pro- 

 duce eggs in quantity. I succeeded ; but do not im- 

 agine, O beginner, that success rewards the person 

 who is not persistent. The climate of southern 

 New Mexico is ideal for the poultry business, yet 

 many there be who write themselves down as fail- 

 ures. Many too came to me for advice, hung 

 around gazing enviously at my healthy, shiny ebony 

 flocks, stood amazed at my first year record of six- 



