NUCESSITY OF PATIENCE. 55 



And so the process will go on ; but we need not follow it 

 further. The principle of action, it will readily be seen, is as 

 eimple as can be. Every variety has some point or points 

 which above all others demand the longest breeding and 

 patience to acquire ; and on these should attention first be fixed, 

 and kept there, gradually giving attention to others, not hy 

 turns, but just as fast as (and no faster than) the increased 

 number of birds good in the first points, and therefore so far 

 admissible to breed from, enables selection to be made for the 

 next point desired. In this way every year wiU show a sure 

 and steady increase in quality ; and, after the first two years, 

 that improvement will be so rapid as to be almost beyond belief ; 

 provided, of course — ^what is clearly implied — that the best 

 birds, from the breeding point of view, are never sold, but 

 kept for the loft. A man cannot reasonably expect to make 

 any marked progress, who constantly sells what really represents 

 aU the ground he has gained. On the average, however, this 

 proviso will not be found to saciifice much in the shape of 

 sales ; since it will often be the case that the most valuable in- 

 dividuals for sale or exhibition are not those most valuable for 

 breeding. For the latter purpose we have seen that we must 

 choose, especially in the earlier stages, the most marked excel- 

 lence in one or two points ; but for show (and therefore for sale) 

 the best are usually those which exhibit the best average of 

 all points, though they be somewhat inferior in those specially 

 sought. Later on the best for breeding will be also the best for 

 show purposes ; but by that time the amateur wiU be enabled 

 both to breed and sell also. Many are, however, too impatient 

 thus to wait for results. For such impatience there is no 

 remedy; those who do not patiently wait and work in the 

 manner described, will assuredly never create a strain, or learn 

 what skilfvd breeding really means. 



When the most cardinal points are thoroughly secured, a 

 little may occasionally be risked. Here, indeed, is one great 



