48 



THE SEX ELEMENT IN REPRODUCTION. 



The importance of the sex element in reproduction has never 

 been fully understood. Splendid work is being done at experi- 

 ment stations and by independent investigators in the study of 

 the domestic fowl. The trap nest has, enabled us to select the 

 hens that lay the most eggs, and to breed from them. Nutrition 

 has been studied, until we can feed with almost mathematical cer- 

 tainty; but the study of sex has been neglected. It may be that 

 the study of sex requires a knowledge of physiology and biology 

 that is lacking in the case of most poultrymen; but it is 'here that 

 the richest field lies, and when a man has mastered the subject of 

 sex he is in a condition to obtain a large and uniform egg yield 

 with the minimum amount of cost and labor. 



BREED FROM THE BEST SEXED BIRDS. 



The great secret of large and uniform egg production I believe 

 to be this: Breed from the best sexed birds! Poultry writers are 

 reviving the old question as to whether or not there is an egg" 

 type. I am inclined to think there is. But the egg type that I 

 care most about is one based on sex. The male that is the most 

 distinctly male and the female that is the most distinctly female 

 are the birds for me. 



By keeping this principle in mind I have succeeded in building 

 up a strain of birds that are splendid layers. I do not use the 

 trap nest, and so am not able to give individual records. I did 

 have a bird once that laid an egg that allowed me to keep tab on 

 her as accurately as if I had used the trap nest. From some 

 peculiarity of the ovaries the egg had a ring around it about one- 

 third of the distance from the smaller to the larger end ; it was 

 ivory white in color and of medium size. It was such an egg as 

 I could not very well mistake. In 14 months and 10 days more 

 than 300 of these eggs appeared. The hen then became broody, 

 and I foolishly allowed her to sit. After she had completed the 

 process of incubation and weaned her chicks, so much time had 

 been lost that I did not attempt to keep tab upon her again. I 

 have given up pushing my hens for big egg production, but take 

 what comes along. When conditions are right I get from 150 to 

 200 eggs a year apiece from my best layers and with that I am 

 satisfied. 



