No. 4.] MODERN POULTRY CULTURE. 103 



Choice fowls that have been weakened by overfeeding, 

 confinement and overshowing, that would not give satisfac- 

 tion if bred pure, may sometimes be used with safety for 

 crossing. Hardy stock that has been on the farm for five 

 or six years is too good stock to throw away. I would 

 advise no market raiser to discard it entirely, and depend 

 upon pure-bred stock that he knew nothing about. I see 

 that lately the Guernsey Cattle Club, instead of advocating 

 that farmers keep nothing but pure-bred Guernsey, advo- 

 cate the use of Guernsey grades, made by breeding 

 Guernsey bulls with good cows, — that such are best for the 

 ordinary farmer. One of the leading wealthy fancy farmers 

 of New York State has recently imported a foreign breed of 

 cattle to cross with his Jerseys, because he finds he can get 

 better results than from the pure-bred cows. 



It is well to remember that those who write and work 

 only to sell their pure-bred stock are not perfectly disin- 

 terested. An exhibition bird, especially if of the nervous, 

 active varieties, jaded by being sent around from show to 

 show, and perhaps bred from stock managed the same, is 

 not what a market poultry raiser should depend upon for 

 his season's crop. He has not only been severely taxed, 

 but during transportation has been exposed to various 

 diseases. 



I am a fancier as well as a student of the commercial end 

 of the industry. I admire the beautiful in poultry. If I 

 were to say what I feel about White Leghorns, I might 

 make some people enthusiastic ; but I have seen the disad- 

 vantages as well as the advantages of fancy stock for the 

 farmer, therefore I give you this advice. 



The Chairman. This subject is open for discussion, and 

 I hope you will ask questions. 



Mr. Dunbar (of West Bridgewater) . Is it safe to feed 

 gluten meal to young fowls ? 



Mr. CusHMAN. I do not hesitate to say I have fed very 

 little gluten meal. Many of the best producers do feed 

 gluten meal. I see a man right here who has fed a good 

 deal of it, and will ask Mr. James Rankin to answer the 

 question. 



