104 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
of a flock. As I pointed out in my book, Poultry Foods and 
Feeding, the stock must be bred as layers—that is, have the char- 
acter for high egg-production, and must also have great stamina 
and strong constitution ; without these they cannot elaborate their 
food into eggs in the quantity their breeding demands. There 
is an old saying that half the breeding goes in at the mouth. That 
is, to an extent, true. If the breeding stock is not right, and if the 
young stock are not properly reared, then you have some of the 
causes for failure even when the foundation stock was all that 
could be desired. 
‘« Again, I would impress upon all that the foundation stone of 
the whole structure of breeding layers is the single pen accom- 
panied by the most vigorous selection. Do not pay too much 
heed to high records unless stamina is assured. Just at present 
there is a rage for high records, most of which are gained by the 
use of too stimulating foods. Remember that as surely as you 
overstrain any part of the organism, so surely shall you pay in 
loss of stamina, fertility, etc. 
“It may be remembered that when the then world’s record, 1531 
eggs from six hens in twelve months, was made at the old Rose- 
worthy Poultry Station Laying Competition, many warnings were 
issued in England and we read of the dangers of forcing and 
breeding from forced layers. I agree heartily with the opinion of 
the ill results following forcing feeding. But, again, I point out 
that in all the laying competitions under my direction in this State 
no forcing foods were used. Where properly bred, healthy, vigor- 
ous stock are adequately housed and fed on a sufficiency of normal 
foods of the correct composition one can gain excellent results.” 
CARE OF THE PULLET 
Once you have evolved the pullets with the inherited tendency 
to lay large numbers of eggs, you are by no means finished. The 
pullets have to be carefully tended and reared till they reach the 
creative stage, and then they must receive the treatment that 
will bring the egg-laying tendency into action. 
