156 POULTRY-CRAFT. 
“Such a mating can be depended on to produce ninety-five per cent of first class 
breeding and exhibition females. The males from it will be of the same color as their 
sire — not exhibition birds, but useful for breeding choice females. 
‘« Do not use males with very light necks and tails in these pullet breeding pens, as 
these defects will be reproduced in the progeny in pullets with splashy light necks, and 
blurred poorly barred tails. 
‘‘Pullets of even color, and distinctly barred all over, are what is desired; and with 
careful selection of the breeding stock, it is not dificult to get them. Such pullets are 
rarely, if ever, produced from Standard colored males—and, if they look well, are not 
reliable breeders. 
‘““To PropucE Mepium Dark BLUE BARRED MALES AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD: 
— put at the head of the breeding pen the very finest exhibition male of Standard color, 
even serrated comb, broad concave back, deep full breast, small spreading tail, orange 
yellow legs, evenly barred all over and to the skin. Do not use a male with any serzous 
defect, even if he scores high. 
‘‘ With this male mate females of the same line of breeding as himself; not necessarily 
akin to him, but females whose szre and dam’s stre were high scoring Standard colored 
birds. These females should be medium dark in color, zot smutty; but evenly barred all 
over and to the skin, with good combs, forms and legs. From such a mating ninety-five 
per cent finely colored males suitable for breeding and exhibition can be produced. The 
females will be of the same general character and color as their dams, too dark for 
exhibition, but useful for breeding choice males. 
‘By this special mating system, and by careful selection of the breeding stock, the 
Barred Plymouth Rock is sure to improve each season, and the longer they are bred in 
line the more perfectly will their Standard qualities be brought out.” 
216. Mating Brown Leghorns. —A. C. Smith’s rules (specially 
contributed for this book). 
The methods and means that must be employed to mate Brown Leghorns successfully 
for exhibition specimens of both sexes, vary with the style of bird the breeder desires to 
produce. Most breeders use what is known as the double mating system —that is, a 
separate mating for the production of each sex. Some breeders use the single mating 
system, depending upon one mating to produce exhibition males and females. But the 
growing tendency in this, as in almost all varieties of fancy fowl, is toward the double 
system. The single mating may be used in this variety with far more success than in 
most others. 
While it can hardly be said that each system has its advantages, it can be said that 
each system has its place. The best system is certainly the one that will produce the 
greater per cent of exhibition birds. Which system will do that, depends upon the style 
of male and female described in the Standard extant. The present demand is for what 
may, in general, be described as a dark male and light female. Such birds are, from a 
breeder’s standpoint, direct opposites. Far better results may be obtained in seeking 
these diametrically opposite types by making a distinct mating for each sex. 
The Double Mating System. 
Mating for Exhibition Males—[Tue Mate]. The mating for exhibition males 
should, first of all, contain as fine an exhibition specimen as can be reared, bought, or 
borrowed — and I am inclined to say, s¢olen. The most important feature of this bird 
(if one feature is more important than others) are, undercolor, which should be dark and 
deep; a good metallic stripe in hackle and saddle; a concave shaped back, giving the 
graceful touch to every part of the bird; an even plumage, 7. «., showing the same shade 
of red in all sections that call for that color; and sufficient station to infuse the bird with 
