482 POULTRY CULTURE 



Division of characters for this purpose gives three classes, which 

 may be designated as (i) essential, (2) substantial, and (3) superficial. 



Essential characters. Whatever the purpose for which poultry- 

 are bred, they should have {a) good constitution, (b) size appropriate 

 to minimum requirements, and (c) individual symmetry. Lacking 

 constitutional vigor, a bird is not likely to produce offspring equal to 

 itself in other respects. The difference may not be perceptible in 

 comparing consecutive generations, but a comparison of stock bred 

 for several generations with care to preserve vitality, and stock in 

 which this point has been neglected for a similar period, rarely fails 

 to show marked deterioration in the latter. Constitution not only 

 affects the quality of other characters but the numbers produced, 

 the losses of stock, and so (indirectly) the methods of practice. In 

 size the birds selected as breeders must always be large enough to 

 produce offspring that will meet the ordinary requirements of the 

 purpose for which the stock is bred. Stock bred for egg production 

 must be large enough to lay eggs marketable at prices for average 

 receipts ; stock bred for market must be large enough to produce 

 poultry that will meet at least the minimum ordinary demand. So 

 with stock bred to sell for breeding or laying purposes, — if the 

 stock is vigorous and has the size required for the ordinary produc- 

 tion of eggs and market poultry, it is salable, though deficient in 

 many other respects ; but if it lacks constitution and ordinary size, 

 it cannot, as a rule, be profitably grown for any purpose. Individual 

 symmetry means a symmetrical development of the individual with- 

 out regard to any particular standard ; there may be symmetry of 

 parts without correspondence with any special established type. 

 Individual symmetry implies absence of deformity. 



Substantial characters. Size as related to special uses or stand- 

 ards, and distinctive shape and color, are substantial characters. If 

 a particular size of market poultry is to be produced, the birds used 

 for breeders must be of appropriate size. In breeding birds, of any 

 established race, to be sold for exhibition or breeding purposes, the 

 breeders selected must closely approximate the standards of weight 

 for their breed or variety. They should also have the distinctive 

 shape and symmetry of the breed or variety, both as to body and as 

 to the general size and shape of other parts in which characters are 

 distinctive. Color, too, is a substantial character in so far as it may 



