SELECTING THE STOCK. 



Strength, Vigor, Health and Increased Power of Production 



are More Important Than Any Particular Breed or Varie= 



ty — Standard Bred Fowls are Best on Account of 



Greater Uniformity in Production and Product. 



By H. A. Nourse. 



The question, "What fowls are the best layers?" is 

 frequently asked and the answer varies considerably. If 

 the reply is made by one who has bred a certain variety of 

 the American class from which he has secured a good egg 

 yield, he recommends that variety. A man who has bred 

 Leghorns or ]\Iinorcas with the same result advises the 

 inquirer to select a variety of those breeds. A breeder 

 of Langshans or perhaps one who has secured a heavy yield 

 from a flock of Light Brahmas will be equally solicitous 

 that the would-be poultry keeper adopt Langshans or Brah- 

 mas, as the case may be. 



The fact, of the matter is this: the Langshans may 

 produce more eggs for a certain breeder than a flock, of Leg- 

 horns upon which he lavishes the same good care; again a 

 flock of White Faced Black Spanish may outstrip all its 

 competitors in a certain man's yards and be selected as 

 the egg producer par excellence by that particular breeder. 

 This is done with good reason; the fowls that produce the 

 most eggs for the same amount of food and care are the most 

 profitable fowls to keep, but the fact that one flock of a 

 certain variety produced more eggs than a certain equal 

 number of another variety of the same breed or a variety 

 of another breed, is not positive proof that all fowls of the 

 first mentioned variety will excel all fowls of the competing 

 varieties. It is the breeding that makes the layer and 

 not the breed or variety. Careful selection of the best 

 layers and intelligent breeding of the same for several genera- 



