Crossing of Breed, 7 1 



door fowls, small, subject to disease, poor as layers, equally 

 as useless on the table, and certainly neither profitable nor 

 creditable to the owner. The first cross may be useful, if 

 properly made, but, it has been found as the experience of 

 many, that if these are bred from, the progeny deteriorates, 

 both in fecundity and size with every generation. This is a 

 matter deserving fuller consideration, which shall be given at 

 the proper time ; but, we have mentioned it now, so that it 

 may be understood that when we speak of cross-bred fowls, 

 we mean the first cross only. Others we shall designate by 

 the only term they deserve — mongrels. The basis of every 

 yard should be pure-bred stock, but where there is room, 

 these should only be used for breeding layers or table fowls. 

 If only a few can be kept for home consumption, then we 

 should advise that crossing be not attempted, but only pure- 

 bred birds kept, unless there is some means of getting the 

 cross-bred ones at a reasonable price, with the certainty that 

 they are as represented. 



Perhaps the consideration we must deal with first of all, is 

 the kind ct soil upon which the birds are to be kept, as this 

 will have a great deal to do with the kinds of birds that can be 

 kept thereon. Any birds can be kept on a dry, sandy, chalk, 

 or gravel soil, upon which they will do well ; but there are 

 many breeds which never thrive where the ground is cold, 

 damp, or clayey. On wet, low-lying lands, we should 

 strongly urge that no poultry be kept at all, except it be 

 ducks or geese. These will do well in such places, and as 

 there is always a demand for water-fowl, and at good prices, 

 a considerable profit can be made where fowls would 

 entail a heavy loss. We regard duck breeding as one of 

 the most profitable portions of poultry keeping, and are 

 surprised that more attention is not paid to it. Upwards of 

 $100,000 is paid annually to the cottagers in the vicinity of 

 Aylesbury, England, for ducklings, and they have no more 



