Selection of Breeding Stock. 
11 
For H ardincss.— Leghorns, Brahmas, Orpingtons, Langshans, Plymouth Rocks, Cocliins, Houdans, 
Minorcas, Andalusians, Malays, Australian dame, Indian (lame, British (lame, Wyandottes, and 
Scotch Clreys. 
As Mothers and Sitters. — Dorkings, all varieties of (lame, Plymouth Rocks, Cochins, Scotch dreys, 
Brahmas, Wyandottes. 
And for general purposes, combining the most useful ({ualities as pure-bred birds, we would select 
Orpingtons, Wyandottes, l.angslians, Ikahmas, Scotch dreys, Houdans, and Plymouth Rocks. 
If the space at command is limited, the Orpington, Leghorn, Minorca, Houdan, Wyandotte, or IMy- 
mouth Rock will be found the best breeds to keep; but Brahmas, Cochins, Dorkings, Polish, 
Game, Hamburgs, etc., kept in a small and cramped-up location, will (excei)t for fancy purposes) 
rarely do well. Should the Leghorn, Minorca, Hamburg, Spanish, Andalusian, or Houdan be selected, and 
it is desired to rear a few chickens for home requirements, it will be necessary to procure broody hens or an 
incubator to hatch the eggs, as these breeds do not incubate. 
From the experience gained by many breeders of Poultry, the Orpmgton, Langshan, Brahma, Houdan, 
Wyandotte, and Plymouth Rock are the most profitable breeds to keep in Australia under ordinary circum- 
stances, and, properly managed, excellent results may be oljlained from any one of them, though, at the same 
time, for the run of a Farm or Orchard the same breeds will still be found the best for general puri)Oses. 
For an unlimited or free range, the Hamburgs, (lames. Cochin, Brahma, Langshan, Scotch dreys, 
Plymouth Rock, or Wyandotte will do amazingly well. The Hamburg and Ciame, under these condition.s, 
are excellent layers of well-flavoured eggs, and the Cochin, Langshan, Brahma, Plymouth Rock, or Wyan- 
dotte look at their very best, and do much towards removing the false impression that they are more or 
less mere " Fancy Fowls." 
In breeding stock for egg-production, it is imperative that the laying stock should be systematically re- 
placed eai h year, with one-third of the total number kept, by young pullets, not under any circumstances 
retaining on the Farm the hens after they are three years old, as on arriving at that age they have seen their 
best days, and do not, as a rule, pay for the feed they consume ; the)' can, on arriving at this age, be sold off, 
and a certain return obtained, which would be very uncertain if they are kept longer, as, if allowed to remain 
on the Farm, they occupy the position of more prolific and profitable birds, and serious loss is occasioned. 
Tiiis is overlooked by many who seek to make a living out of their Poultry, and should be guarded against 
with rigid determination. To " Fanciers " and Breeders of Exhibition Poultry this drastic measure does not 
alwaj's apply, as frequently a hen of proved excellence in past seasons is well worth keeping to breed from as 
long as she will lay ; in this instance, probably a half-dozen eggs will represent quite ten times the value of an 
ordinary egg-producing hen. 
Again, much rests in the hands of the Poultry Farmer who makes a stud)' of supplying the market with 
eggs, in breeding his laying stock at the proper time of year, so as to keep up the laying returns at a fairly 
universal rate — not, as so many are situated, with plenty of eggs when low in price, and none or few when a 
fair price may be secured. This can be done, but depends to a great extent on the careful selection of the 
variety and breeding the stock at the correct time of the year, of the more prominent egg-producing breeds, 
such as the Leghorn, Minorca, or Andalusian ; it is best to hatch the chickens as early as possible in the 
spring, or the latter end of the winter. In Australia the change of seasons vary considerably, so that no fixed 
data could be given beyond the suggestion that in the coastal area July to September would be the best 
months for hatching operations, in the Centre and Southern divisions August to October, and in the Northern 
and Western divisions June to August. As there are residents in Australia over 2,000 miles apart, it will be 
seen how difificult it would be to state a definite time for hatching operations to begin ; and the reader must 
use his own knowledge of the proper time to do so, being guided by the seasons in his locality, remembering 
that late hatched or summer chickens never pay for the trouble of rearing., and, if the error has been made, they 
.should be killed for the table while young 
