26 A POULTRY COMPENDIUM. 



1. After rejecting all of the darkest pullets and all 

 of the lightest cockerels, take of the remainder the dark- 

 est pullets and mate with one of the lightest cockerels — 

 not akin, of course. This will give light cockerels, a 

 majority of the pullets the color of the mothers, and a 

 few lighter pullets, which are very desirable for breeding 

 purposes. 



2. Take pullets lighter than those used in first mat- 

 ing and mate them with a medium colored cockerel. This 

 is a good mating, especially for cockerels. 



3. Mate the lightest pullets with a dark medium 

 cockerel, but be careful that the cockerel is not too 

 dark or you will get black pullets. If the pullets are 

 quite light of course the cockerel can be almost of their 

 shade and black chicks not result from the mating. 



HAMBURGS. 



In mating the different varieties of Hamburgs, it is 

 necessary to see that both male and female have the 

 true Hamburg shape and characteristics ; if spangled, that 

 the spangling be clear, the feathers well marked ; if pen- 

 ciled, that the penciling be the same ; and that the 

 colors for cock and hen be such as are required in the 

 American Standard of Excellence. Breed a large number, 

 from which to select your exhibition birds, for with the 

 most careful mating there will be not a few imperfect 

 specimens. 



LEGHORNS. 



To produce good combs in the cockerels — that is, 

 combs which do not have a tendency to lop over — select 



