106 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
is steady and sure profit. Of course a few will succeed 
as breeders of fancy fowls, but the number is limited, 
and they must have good judgment and perceptions, 
with persistence and perseverance. 
—*o—— 
ADVANTAGE OF CROSS BREEDING. 
What breeds to cross is a problem which has not yet 
been solved. Asiatic fowls were bred pure, and also 
mated with Plymouth Rocks, which itself is a recog- 
nized cross-breed, but an established one. ‘The result 
was that the cross-breed pullets and cockerels are several 
pounds heavier than the Asiatic pure-bred ones, which 
have had equally good care, feed, and other conditions 
of growth. Those cross-bred chickens, instead of mak- 
ing a great growth of stilts at first, and subsequently 
laying a modicum of flesh and fat upon them, are 
always ready for the table, and profitable to send to 
market, after they are as large as quails. The first cross 
makes, as a rule, the greatest improvement upon the 
parent breeds, and a number of practical questions come 
up, in regard to the subject of poultry raising, with the 
view simply to produce the largest amount of meat 
which will bring the highest price in the market. For 
instance, as in the crossing of Brahmas and Plymouth 
Rocks, or any Asiatics, with games, should the hens be 
of the larger breed, or the reverse? Which breeds 
crossed will develop the greatest early maturity? The 
greatest weight at the most profitable ages ? The great- 
est weight and plumpness at the best market periods ? 
Which makes the best capons? ‘There have been a 
good many half-made efforts to solve these and kindred 
problems, but it can hardly be said that definite conclu. 
sions have been arrived at. 
