66 POULTRY CULTURE 



Problems are simplified by keeping as close to natural conditions 

 as is consistent with the object sought. The application of this 

 precept is much wider than at first appears. It applies to stock, 

 that is, to the type of bird; the "business type" of bird for any 

 purpose is a plain type the original type improved and modified 

 with reference to use only. Large combs and crests, and feathers 

 on legs and feet, are superfluous features which complicate the 

 work of caring for the birds and limit their adaptability. It applies 

 to housing ; the house that provides only shelter from the elements 

 requires least attention from the keeper, and the fowls in it are 

 more thrifty. It applies to feeding ; under natural or approximately 

 natural conditions feeding ceases to be a problem. It applies to 

 breeding ; in nature the fittest to live survive to reproduce their 

 kind. The poultry keeper who systematically breeds from vigorous 

 birds retains and improves characters dependent upon constitutional 

 vigor much more surely than one who, in breeding for those charac- 

 ters, uses specimens in which they are more highly developed but 

 which are deficient in constitution. It applies to incubation and 

 brooding ; although artificial methods are necessary in some lines, 

 and perhaps better for some persons or in some cases, as a rule it 

 is very much easier to grow poultry by natural methods in the 

 natural season. It applies to hygiene ; under natural conditions 

 little attention need be given to sanitary condition of houses, coops, 

 or soil, while under intensive, unnatural conditions these things 

 require constant attention. Its application might be shown in fur- 

 ther illustrations, but these cover the points to be considered in 

 this section. In no way can the poultry keeper so effectively sim- 

 plify his problems and make his work easier from the start as by 

 keeping as close as practicable to natural conditions. 



Problems in practice may be essentially different from corre- 

 sponding theoretical problems. The theoretical treatment of a 

 subject (as of housing or feeding) is 1 general, its object being to 

 furnish information which will enable each one who uses it to 

 determine what style of house or what method of feeding is best 

 suited to his needs. The problems of housing, feeding, etc., as 

 already stated, are complex problems. At the point of application 

 the nature of the problems changes. Theoretically they become 

 simple, practically they become complex. 



