290 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
One of the best varieties to cross with for increasing the pro¬ 
duction of eggs is the White Leghorn, and particularly so if your 
flock of hens have size. The Houdan also makes a desirable 
cross, both as regards the production of eggs and flesh. But 
be the cross ever so good, one essential point will still be lack¬ 
ing that will take away a large amount of interest that would 
otherwise be taken in them, which is uniformity. While a 
flock of cross-bred fowls would hardly be noticed by any one 
not directly interested in the profit and loss account therewith, 
the flock that is pure-bred, uniform in size and markings, bred 
% 
to a standard, will always attract attention; the owner will 
take pleasure in “showing them up,” give them better care, 
and as a natural consequence, find them more profitable, even 
though it be a variety possessing naturally only ordinary 
merit. 
We have not deemed it advisable to go into statistics to 
show the profit in keeping and rearing poultry, as it varies 
largely under different circumstances. It may however be put 
down as a safe rule that a hen that will not afford a net profit 
of one dollar per year is either not worth keeping or is poorly 
cared for; while we may note fifty to one hundred per cent, 
more than this as a fair average profit. That the improved 
breeds are more desirable as well as profitable to keep than 
ordinary mongrels there can be no question. Among the 
common “dunghill” there can be found individual hens pos¬ 
sessing merit, but they are not plenty, and will not compare 
favorably with the improved breeds, either in the number of 
eggs or quality of flesh produced, while the pure bred fowl 
will average equal to the best selected mongrel, and have the 
additional value of uniformity in quality and appearance. 
What Breed is the most Profitable? —This question, 
often raised, is still unanswered, and probably never will be, 
to the satisfaction of all, as no one variety possesses all the 
requisites of a perfect fowl. Much will also depend upon the 
accommodations provided; whether the range is limited or 
wide ; whether eggs or birds for the table, or both, are wanted. 
