8 BULLETIN 464, IJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



LESSON ONE. 



SUBJECT: SELECTING THE FLOCK. 



EARLY SEPTEMBER. 



Topics for study. — (Develop only those which may have local appli- 

 cation.) 



(1) The individual fowl: Characteristics indicating strong consti- 

 tutions, faults or defects to be avoided, value of desirable ancestry, 

 relative value of hens and pullets. (See fig. 4.) 



(2) The breed and variety: Develop the application of the terms 

 breed, class, variety, and strain as applied to poultry. Find what 

 varieties and strains are considered successful locally and study these 

 more carefully. What color of egg does the local market demand '? 



Fig. 1. — Evidences of strong and weak constitutions, showing method of arranging pictures for contrast. 



Consider the aims of the pupils in their projects in covering this 

 topic. 



References. — Farmers' Bulletins 51; 287, pp. 5, 6; 355, pp. 29-33; 

 562, p. 7. Also station and extension bulletins and circulars of the 

 State agricultural college. "The American Standard of Perfection" 

 is the authority for judging breeds and varieties. 



The Jiome project. — Have each pupil begin the project at once. De- 

 cide on aim in each case — eggs for market, meat for market, eggs for 

 hatching, eggs and meat for home. Help pupils to obtain expert 

 advice in selecting their project flocks. Cull at once and plan to dis- 

 pose of the culls in accordance with suggestions of Lesson three. 



Material and exercises. — Use photographs and other pictures of 

 poultry. Typical feathers showing markings of breeds, etc., may be 

 collected and mounted. Complete and use the survey charts and 



