A POULTRY COMPENDIUM. 19 



the old fowls, and the deterioration will have begun, 

 which will, in time, render the descendants of the choicest 

 specimens of thoroughbreds little better than the com- 

 mon dunghill fowl. This, then, is a very important 

 matter ; in it too great care cannot be exercised. 



There are some general principles which ought to be 

 stated: 



1. Fowls matched for exhibition are seldom properly 

 mated for breeding. Matching and mating are not the 

 same thing. For this reason, oftentimes, a purchaser of 

 the breeding pen which has just been awarded the first 

 premium at some of the poultry exhibitions, looking for 

 something admirable in their progeny, meets with bitter 

 disappointment. The fowls did look finely together, but 

 they were matched, not mated. 



2. The best specimens of the breed ought to be 

 saved for breeding purposes. Resist the temptation to 

 dispose of your finest stock, no matter what the price 

 offered, if you wish to succeed. I know the temptation 

 is great, when one has received a liberal offer, to dispose 

 of just those birds which he ought to retain. It seems 

 like a loss to refuse the offer, but you will get your 

 pay in the future, if you do ; and you will, too, if you 

 do not. 



3. The deficiency of the hen must be met by a cor- 

 responding surplus in the cock, and vice versa. To illus- 

 trate what is meant — suppose you are breeding for a plump, 

 round breast, and your hen is lacking in that quality, 

 the cock with which she is mated ought to have a 

 breast excessively prominent, so that the progeny will 

 reach an average which will meet your desires. 



