No. 4.] MODERN POULTRY CULTURE. 101 



producers, and therefore must be marketed after the first 

 season. The non-sitters, if given liberty, are profitable the 

 second and third years. 



If your market prefers white eggs, and you do not care to 

 market table poultry, I believe the Black Minorca is the best 

 breed for you. If you wish a white egg-producer that has 

 yellow skin and legs, the largest strains of white and buff* 

 Leghorns would be my next choice. For a hardy winter 

 layer of brown eggs the Langshan stands at the head, but 

 the dressed poultry cannot be sold to advantage or at all in 

 some markets. It is, however, excellent for your own table. 

 Black pin-feathers are objectionable. 



I cannot conscientiously advise every farmer to keep noth- 

 ing but pure-bred poultry, but I would like to see every one 

 without exception use at least })ure-bred males of the breed 

 that best suited their purpose. If the poultrymen of this 

 country could be induced to do this, the sale of pure-bred 

 poultry by breeders and fanciers would not only be ten times 

 what it is to-day, but many would succeed where they now 

 fail. Very often a fancier stands out against any teaching 

 like this. They say keep pure-bred fowls, pure-bred males 

 and females, have them all alike, and take pleasure in their 

 beauty. Let those who want to follow the business of 

 raising pure-breds do so ; let them do the improving, and 

 if it is practical buy your stock of them, whether you cross 

 or breed pure. The man who raises ten acres of potatoes 

 does not select the seed because it produces handsome blos- 

 soms. I believe that the mechanics and market producers, 

 the majority, want to get what will give the best returns, 

 regardless of anything else. 



There is a legitimate field for fanciers who sell exhibition 

 and breeding birds, but they have to be artists, as well as 

 students of the laws of breeding. To make the business pay, 

 they must be also skilful advertisers. Those of this class 

 who succeed are few compared with the great number who 

 can make money producing eggs and poultry for market. 

 Skilful breeders, with only room enough to raise a few 

 pure-bred fowls, like the painter on canvas, do best to 

 produce a few choice artistic productions, that bring fancy 

 prices ; but the breeder who engages extensively, if he breeds 



