FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



229 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



THE PREJUDICE AGAINST POULTRY 

 BREEDING. 



No. I. 



It cannot be denied that a prejudice does exist, in many 

 quarters, against the breeding of fine poultry. Recently, 

 when one of our prominent breeders was pointed out to a 

 gentleman, he said, " He is a fine looking man for a chicken 

 dealer." This man was only expressing an idea which pre- 

 vails to a considerable extent. Many regard the care of 

 poultry as too trivial a business for a man, but as the appro- 

 priate work of women and children. Perhaps the majority 

 of farmers regard it as unprofitable stock, which must, how- 

 ever, be endured to please their wives and daughters, who 

 derive no inconsiderable revenue for the supply of their 

 wants from the sale of eggs and chickens. 



The husband and father fails to consider how many calls 

 upon his purse, or perplexing store bills are thus saved him, 

 nor does he reflect how many delicacies, in the way of pud- 

 dings, custards, &c, find their way to his table, of which he 

 would feel it necessary to deny himself if all the eggs had 

 to be purchased for cash. 



Fowls have a wonderful facility of adapting themselves 

 to adverse circumstances, or they would utterly fail to render 

 any profit to many farmers. The great wonder is that 

 cholera, roup, gapes and kindred diseases do not destroy 

 more flocks than they do. Where shelter is provided at all, 

 it is frequently permitted to become so filthy as to breed 

 vermin and disease. Large numbers of poor, ill-fed fowls 

 are obliged to roost on trees and fences, and thus have to 

 withstand winter's storms, and the chill rains of spring and 

 autumn. 



Many feel a distrust of all poultry breeders on account of 

 the impositions of unprincipled breeders. This business in 

 the past has afforded a fine field for dishonest operations, and 

 there were many who were not slow to avail themselves of 

 the opportunity. Much of this distrust is not without suffi- 

 cient cause, for there is no question but the confidence of the 

 public has been shamefully abused. Inferior fowls have 

 been sent out at prices which ought to have commanded ttie 

 best of stock. Birds of fine appearance, but impure blood, 

 have been sold as first-class fowls. Eggs have been sent out 

 which were not what they were represented to be. But the 

 time is well nigh past when these men can thus practice 

 their impositions. The poultry journals, the numerous ex- 

 hibitions, and, above all, the National Association, by bring- 

 ing together breeders from all parts of the land, will serve 

 to expose the dishonest, and eventually drive them to some 

 other more profitable field of operations. We ought to be 

 so careful in the admission of members to the Association, 

 that membership in it will come to be regarded as an assur- 

 ance of a breeder's integrity. The resolutions adopted at 

 Boston have the right ring, and will do much to restore 

 public confidence. Let every one who proposes a new name 

 for membership be ready to vouch for the integrity of the 

 applicant, and let no man of doubtful character be admitted. 



If the general public could have looked in on the Conven- 

 tion at Buffalo it would have done more to remove prejudice 

 than any number of newspaper articles. Many in the body 

 were men of means, of culture, and of high social position ; 

 men actively engaged, professionally or in business, who 

 have found poultry breeding not only a pleasant diversion, 

 but also a source of profit. 



If the National Association fulfills its present promise, 

 and I doubt not it will, it will render invaluable aid in 

 various ways to State and local organizations, and will 

 greatly assist in establishing the poultry interest on a firm 

 basis. F. E. W. 



(JlomisiJfltnUtta. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



Mr. Editor. 



Bear Sir : I would like to inquire of you or some of 

 your readers if there is any difference between "White and 

 Pearl Guineas ? Also, whether Muscovy and Plata Ducks 

 are not the same ? I remain respectfully yours, E. W. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



Mr. Jos. M. Wade, 



Dear Sir: I have a Light Brahma pullet six months 

 old, that weighs eight pounds, which laid an egg 7J inches 

 by 6.} inches, and weighs 54 ounces. She has laid several 

 large eggs, but this is the largest one. Yours truly, 



Or. MaCREADT. 



Sioux City, Iowa. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 

 Editor Fanciers' Journal : 



Tour correspondent, Mrs. D., of Iowa, gives the very 

 reason — according to my experience — why her eggs that she 

 used last, beat better than the others, in the words " although 

 older." We keep hens, therefore have fresh eggs, but I 

 always take my oldest eggs when beating for cake, especially 

 for frosting, as new laid eggs may foam some, but settle 

 back into liquid if left a short time, when older eggs would 

 have kept stiff. I have known this reason to have been 

 given by bakers. Mrs. D. might keep some of her non-fer- 

 tile eggs three weeks or more and see if they do not beat as 

 light as the others. Respectfully, &c, 



Mrs. E. 



Providence, March 27, 1874. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



Mr. Jos. M. Wade. 



Dear Sir : I noticed in Fanciers' Journal for March 26, 

 a communication from Mr. A. K. Martin, asking, what 

 poultry breeders mean when they offer " standard fowls for 

 sale." 



Whenever I see the term in an advertisement, or circular, 

 I consider that the one using it, is either ignorant of what a 

 standard fowl should be, or else is endeavering to deceive his 

 customers. I have owned, bred, and sold a great many hun- 

 dred (perhaps a thousand) fowls, and I never yet owned, or 

 saw a standard bird. I have never yet seen a bird that I 

 considered to deserve over ninety-five points, and I can 

 count on my fingers all that I have seen entitled to over 

 ninety. 



To say that a bird is standard, is to assert that he is per- 

 fect ; that there is not a feather, not a point— either in shape, 

 size, symmetry or condition — that can be improved. It must 

 be evident to every thinking man, that no educated and 

 respectable fancier would make any such assertion as this. 

 It would be well, perhaps, to class such men in the same 

 category with those who advertise their fowls as the best in 

 the world. In the latter case, however, we understand that 

 the world meant, is their own little world of half a dozen 

 admiring friends and neighbors, beyond which, their range 

 of vision cannot penetrate. Tours truly, 



A. M. Halsted. 



Kye, N. Y., March 28, 1874. 



