TYPE AND NUMBER OF MALES 385 



of study. We often see children who resemble and act like one 

 parent, let us say the father, while others resemble and act like 

 the mother. And yet some children will be like neither of the 

 parents, nor like any of their immediate kin. Breeders of horses 

 and cattle and other branches of livestock are fully aware of the 

 variations in offspring in this respect, and it is probably because 

 of their persistent quest of knowledge along these lines that they 

 have made so much more progress in scientific breeding than 

 poultry men. 



Among those who have never given mating other than casual 

 thought, and such persons are in the majority, there is the belief 

 that heavy layers are bound to produce chicks which will develop 

 into heavy layers. In their minds, to produce a heavy laying 

 strain all that is necessary is to trap-nest the flock, and breed 

 only from such hens as have made a certain record. This is a 

 step in the right direction ; the idea is a splendid one, and makes 

 for careful selection. But, unfortunately, it does not go far 

 enough. In the first place, we cannot trap-nest male birds; and 

 pedigree, while useful and essential, is not alone a sufficient basis 

 for the selection of that element which is to dominate future 

 generations, and probably the success or failure of the poultry- 

 man. 



Maine Experiment. — Some years ago the Maine Experiment 

 Station endeavored to establish a 200-egg strain of fowls by 

 breeding only from those which laid the most eggs. The experi- 

 ments extended over "a number of years, the plan was well con- 

 ducted, it received the most favorable attention, and everything 

 was done to further the idea. The work was finally abandoned 

 as a failure. Those in charge of the work were trying to establish 

 an extreme in egg production, by breeding from high-producing 

 hens. They failed to appreciate the need for that other faculty — 

 prepotency — the capacity to transmit high-producing qualities. 



Number of Males. — Let us first consider the ratio of males to 



females. No fixed rule can be given, because the breed, size of 



the flock, living quarters, extent of range and the general health 



and vigor of the stock are all determining factors. For example, 



25 



