102 999 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



QUESTION What is the best breed for a city lot? 



ANSWER No one breed can be said to be unquestionably better 

 than another, but the Asiatic or American breeds are generally pref- 

 erable to the Mediterranean breeds, for the reason that the latter 

 are usually high fliers and more or less restless when confined. 



QUESTION How many fowls can be kept on an acre of 

 ground ? 



ANSWER About 250 ordinarily. 



QUESTION Is it advisable to breed more than one variety of 

 fowls ? 



ANSWER Most people will succeed better with one variety 

 only, although an experienced breeder with ample room may get 

 good results from two or more varieties. 



QUESTION Do Wyandottes forage as much as Plymouth 

 Rocks? 



ANSWER There is practically no difference. 



QUESTION Which is the best breed? 



ANSWER This question is perhaps asked oftener than any 

 other. It is generally among the very first inquiries from begin- 

 ners. The truth is that no breed can be said to be better than all 

 the others. Pages and volumes have been written in argument of the 

 matter, and it is stijl unsettled to the satisfaction of all. One per- 

 son will succeed with a breed with which another has failed. Much 

 depends upon the particular strain of any breed. For instance a 

 strain of Leghorns which have been systematically selected and line 

 bred, for heavy egg production will lay more eggs than will Leg- 

 horns not so bred. Consequently there is a wide difference in fami- 

 lies of the same variety or breed as well as in different varieties and 

 breeds. The poultryman should select the breed which suits him 

 best in color and shape, for the reason that he will be more inter- 

 ested in it and will give it better attention, which means greater suc- 

 cess. The fowls that are the best general or all-purpose ones are the 

 several varieties of Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes. The varie- 

 ties which are most popular and most extensively bred for fancy, 

 for market purposes and egg production, are Barred Plymouth 

 Rocks, White Plymouth Rocks and White Wyandottes. 



QUESTION What is line breeding? 



ANSWER By line breeding is meant the system of producing 

 fowls through the mating of birds related to each other and de- 

 scended from common ancestors, confining breeding operations to 

 the members of one family, but avoiding injurious inbreeding. To 



