44 THE TKAP NEST TEXT BOOK 



of those birds that happen to be laying the best (hiving that month. - It 

 you wish to know which birds are paying you (lie best, whieh are pro- 

 ducing, or are likely to produce the most eggs during the year, you 

 can arrange a system from what I have described, or you can use Ideal 

 trap nests and follow the teachings of this book, whichever you think 

 will be the easiest, the most reliable, and will take the least time. 



The actual truth of the matter is that we cannot, in any practical way, 

 tell which are Our most profitable layers, or which are the best female* 

 to use as breeders in order to improve the laying qualities of our strain, 

 without a record, in black and white, of the laying habit of each indi- 

 vidual. Even' scheme, of whatever kind or nature, that has yet been 

 advanced for obtaining such a record without trapping the hen and her 

 e«"- not only involves a greater expenditure of time and labor, but is 

 less reliable than a correct installation of Ideal trap nests rationally at- 

 tended. 



I will allow that unthinking or uninformed people may, in all sincer- 

 ity dispute this claim ; but when an experienced poultry keeper, be he 

 a clergyman, a civil engineer or what not, or merely a common every- 

 day liar, claims that he has a method by which -the ben* will keep 

 their own record, and that perfectly," or by which '•you can learn all 

 that you want to know by observation, without trap nests," my opinion 

 of his sincerity, honesty, truthfulness or religion would be unfit for 

 publication . 



CULLING FOR PROFIT. 



"L,et your own discretion be your tutor." Shakespeare. 

 Culling: to separate, select, to pick out. Def . 



The maximum of protit-in-poultry-keeping depend* in the greatest 

 measure, upon careful, constant, and skillful culling. Retaining doubt- 

 ful specimens "to see how they will come out" may he a good plan for 

 the student who is willing and able to pay for first-hand knowledge, 

 but it-costs money. 



If we can succeed, at the expense of much labor and considerable 

 money, in getting good results from little promise it does not prove 

 that we are warranted in the attempt. Legitimate profit is always (or 

 should be) the margin between actual value to the buyer and cost to the 

 producer. 



Neglecting to cull out, promptly, all slock, young or old, that is be- 

 ing kept at a loss with no promise of future profitableness, means the 

 difference between profit and loss with thousands of poultry keepers, 

 liven in flocks that, as a whole, pay » prolit, a more strict and careful 

 culling would increase the profits. 



