IMPORTANCE OF EXCEPTIONAL SIRE 39 



but, if you breed a cock from a 100 egg 

 cross to bens of a 250 egg cross, tbe pul- 

 lets of this cross will only produce 100 

 eggs. This explains why, when you have 

 100 young hens and your no.xt door neigh- 

 bor has the same number and same variety, 

 you get 100 eggs, whilst he gets 200 eggs — 

 both chickens having the same range and 

 the same food. The heavy table fowl have 

 their exceptional cock from which all the 

 best market poultry come. 



I do not want to be misunderstood when 

 I emphasize the importance of the excep- 

 tional sire. While, at most, only a few 

 sons of any sire can improve the breed, at 

 the same time, his other sons and daugh- 

 ters are far more valuable than the produce 

 of inferior sires. In other words,- the least 

 desirable of the get of a great sire usually 

 is worth more than the most valuable of 

 an inferior sire ; and, among horses, a great 

 sire marks his colts and gives them his 

 disposition, his intelligence, his speed and 

 individuality. Among market poultry, a 

 great cock also does the same; he gives 

 them weight and early maturity. 



