4 Introduction. 



ally, primarily fanciers' books) gives better instruction in 

 regard to the successful rearing of fancy poultry. Yet, giv- 

 ing well-bred poultry of all kinds their true value, it is replete 

 with instruction how to make the most money, or at least the 

 most profit, by their use. 



The public is familiar with the advantages derived from 

 the employment of thorough-bred and pure-bred males in the 

 breeding of all other kinds of domestic animals. We all know 

 how that, with sheep and swine especially, grades and cross 

 breeds of the first generation are much more profitable to rear 

 for their useful qualities than full bloods are, for the reason 

 ;hat in such a first cross those high qualities which have 

 beconie fixed by a long course of breeding and selection assert 

 themselves with peculiar force. It seems as if poultry raisers 

 had been peculiarly negligent of or blind to this natural law, 

 and had neglected to practise that which in the rearing of 

 other kinds of farm stock they consider of vital importance. 



The chapter on " Cross-bred Poultry " puts this subject in 

 a very clear light, but hardly dwells sufficiently, to my notion, 

 on the fact that where it is difficult to obtain pure-bred poul- 

 try of different breeds, such as one desires to cross, grades 

 may be reared in two or three years by crossing a pure male 

 bird of the wished-for breed upon, first, a good flock of com- 

 mon females, the next year (changing the male) upon the pul- 

 lets of the first year, and so on. By the time the second or 

 third cross is made the grade birds will possess almost fully 

 the useful qualities of the breed from which the cross is 

 taken, and the hens may be used just as if they were pure in 

 crossing with a cock of a different breed for market poultry or 

 for layers, as Mr. Beale directs. 



