Selection for Egg Production. 
69 
will be found inferior to either parent in the essential qualities, whereas a pure-bred strain will possess much 
greater uniformity, and, in our opinion, pay much better in the long run, more especially if fresh blood of 
the same variety on the cock's side is used each year as breeding stock. This virtually amounts to a cross, 
but has not the objectionable features attached to crossing with birds of a distinct variety, the latter plan 
followed out, in a few years having the effect of producing a nondescript breed of fowls, which has a 
tendency, owing to continual crossing, to revert back to inferior ancest0''s. Nothing but the greatest care 
and judicious selection of the stock-birds introduced each year will combat this difficulty, and one unwise 
cross will undo years' work of patience and study. Not so with pure-breeds given the same attention, 
THEIR characteristics are strongly fixed, and they are not so likely to sport ; in fact, much greater dependence 
may be placed upon their ability to do, and do thoroughly well, the task expected from them. 
Again, experiments have been made to see if the number of rows of corn on a cob could not be 
increased with success. The same method which was pursued with the corn is applicable to poultry 
breeding. For example, starting with hens which lay 120 eggs each in a year ; among their progeny there 
may be some which lay 150 eggs per year, these being selected for breeding. From these again, some are 
produced which lay 175 eggs per year, and from these it is possible to breed hens which will lay 200 eggs 
each per annum. The problem is not so easy to carry out to a successful issue with poultry as with corn, for 
it is compulsory to breed the cocks as well as the hens each year from the most prolific layers, in order to 
succeed. If the breeding of the hens alone is studied to this end, a cross introduced on the male side which 
is lacking in prolificacy, will considerably hamper the effort. It therefore becomes absolutely necessary to 
breed the cocks from hens which possess the desired qualification, and which exhibit a cumulative ability in 
the desired direction. It is just as essential that the cock used for stud purposes should be bred from a hen 
whose record is 175 eggs per year, and from a cock that was bred from a hen that laid 150 eggs per year, as 
it is that the hen was bred from one that laid 175 eggs per year, and whose mother laid 150 eggs per year, 
if the hen with a 200 egg record is to be produced. Breeders of laying fowls are too apt to forget this 
important provision, and introduce cocks for stud purposes with little regard to their breeding, and then 
wonder how on earth it is that the prolificacy of the flcjck does not increase. 
The feeding of Poultry for eggs also plays a prominent part ; and, if the end in view is to obtain eggs in 
abundance from the stock, they must be fed accordingly to develop and sustain the enormous drain upon 
their systems, caused by the daily, or nearly so, production of an egg. The greater variety of foods which 
combine the essentials that can be given the better. 
To feed for eggs, an excellent plan is to feed five mornings in the week with soft food, mixed as follows : 
About one-third of various cooked vegetables, mashed fine, a large teaspoonful of condition spice, two days ; 
cayenne pepper, one day ; condition spice, the next two days ; powdered charcoal, one day ; and a 
teaspoonful of salt to each bucketful of feed daily. Into this is mixed two-thirds coarse oatmeal, the balance 
of cornmeal and pollard in equal quantities, the whole being mixed thoroughly well with boiling water into 
a crumbling mass ; and, if green-cut bone can be obtained, about three-quarters of an ounce to each hen 
also should be mixed with the food daily. If green-cut bone is not obtainable, meat, in nearly the same 
quantity, should take the place of the bone. This will contain a great variety of food elements, and this is 
an important desideratum, as a hen requires a variety of foods to supply her many physical needs, and allow 
her a surplus to produce eggs in quantity. This morning food should be fed in troughs, so that all will get a 
nearly equal share. 
For the noon, or mid-day, and night feeds, wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, and whole corn should be fed 
alternately. Whole ivheat is the very best grain for laying foivls, barley next, and oats, buckwheat, and corn 
in order named. Barley or oats should be the mid-day feed five days in the week, and wheat the night feed 
five or six days in the week. To this must be added a plentiful supply of grit and oyster-shells, and plenty of 
clean, cool water. 
