68 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
For instance, where pure-bred stock is not solely kept, should the cockerels produced from a given cross 
this year not be up to the standard re(iuirements for table purposes, the mischief could be easily remedied 
the following year by a judicious cross with one of the more prominent table breeds, to improve the desired 
quality ; or, if the pullets were found deficient in laying capabilities, this failing could be checked by an 
infusion of new blood from one of the best laying varieties in producing the next relay of pullets, and would 
assist greatly in keeping the balance. 
At the same time, though quantity must necessarily be an important factor in the products of a 
Poultry-egg Farm, great care must also be taken that the quality of the eggs marketed are right up to 
standard, as, if a falling off is noticed in the latter respect, that which is gained on the one head is swallowed 
up by losses on the other. Once the consumer becomes satisfied that confidence is not misplaced in deahng 
for your products, this must not be sacrificed, or loss will be inevitable. 
It must be seen that the intelligent and practical Poultry Farmer in Australia has before him an almost 
unexploited field, and that by due selection of his stock to attain a given object, the results will exceed 
anticipation when conducted in a systematic and careful manner. Poultry can be moulded at will by 
selection and preference ; nothing must be left to blind chance ; it is only by well-directed and sustained 
efforts that the enterprise is likely to turn out profitably. 
In quoting the different crosses given in this chapter that are most suitable for egg production, our 
readers must banish from their minds the thoughts that it is only the theory of the thing that we have 
expounded. This is not so ; the whole of the instructions and advice given have been practically illustrated 
by experiments, though, naturally, it will be a difficult task for one who is just beginning, and who possesses 
little or no knowledge of poultry, to make a success from the jump. However, the course given is clear, and 
no insurmountable obstacles are likely to arise if the question of selection for egg production is carried out 
in a thoroughly methodical and practical manner. Without this is done, it is best to leave Poultry Farming 
to those who will do so. 
Again, if it is desired to keep a pure breed, which, in addition to fair laying powers, possesses a fair 
value for market purposes, we know of no better breeds than the Orpington, Wyandotte, Langshan, and 
Plymouth Rock, in the order named. Practical experience has shown that birds selected and bred for egg 
producing alone, no matter how large the return on this head may be, will not give the same actual profit 
after two or three years' trials, as a pure or first-cross strain of poultry combining the two qualities — that of 
egg producers and market birds. This is occasioned by a certain return being obtained by the sale of hens 
past their profitable laying age, the sale of surplus cocks, and the cockerels which must inevitably be bred, 
proving a decided advantage over the system of breeding stock for eggs alone, as the hens, cockS; and 
cockerels of this breed would be scarcely of any value whatever for market purposes. At the same time, any 
of the mentioned breeds, such as the Orpington, Wyandotte, Langshan, or Plymouth Rock, can be bred up 
to a very high standard as egg producers, without sacrificing their value for table purposes to any extent. 
Therefore, a larger profit would be obtained by giving the question of breeding to this standard the attention 
it deserves. 
This cannot be done with the more prominent laying breeds — ^JVIinorcas, Leghorns, etc. Their egg 
producing capabilities may be considerably increased, good as they undoubtedly are ; but it is impossible, 
unless by the aid of some distinct cross, to improve their table qualities. Therefore, though they may lay a 
far greater number of eggs during the year, they will not be nearly so profitable as a breed combining the 
two. A great diversity of opinion exists on the question of pure-breeds versus cross-breeds, but, as a matter 
of fact, the principal breeds we have enumerated as combining the desired qualifications of egg producers and 
table poultry, are, in reality, themselves cross-breeds strictly speaking — a number of different varieties being 
used in their composition — though now their characteristics are so firmly fixed that they rank as a pure-breed. 
Therefore, to take up a breed and cross again would scarcely be an improvement, taking into consideration 
the fact that these breeds were formed and bred thoroughly well to attain the object. Cross-bred birds will, 
as a rule, be found more precocious, but there are certain to be some (possibly a minority of the stock) which 
