FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 229 



(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
THE PREJUDICE AGAINST POULTRY 
BREEDING. 
No. I. 
Ir cannot be denied that a prejudice does exist, in many 
quarters, against the breeding of fine poultry. Recently, 
when one of our prominent breeders was pointed out to a 
gentleman, he said, ‘‘ He is a fine looking man for a chicken 
dealer.”” This man was only expressing an idea which pre- 
vails to.a considerable extent. Many regard the care of 
poultry as too trivial a business for a man, but as the appro- 
priate work of women and children. Perhaps the majority 
of farmers regard it as unprofitable stock, which must, how- 
ever, be endured to please their wives and daughters, who 
derive no inconsiderable revenue for the supply of their 
wants from the sale of eggs and chickens. 
The husband and father fails to consider how many calls 
upon his purse, or perplexing store bills are thus saved him, 
nor does he reflect how many delicacies, in the way of pud- 
dings, custards, &c., find their way to his table, of which he 
would feel it necessary to deny himself if all the eggs had 
to be purchased for cash. 
Fowls have a wonderful facility of adapting themselves 
to adverse circumstances, or they would utterly fail to render 
any profit to many farmers. The great wonder is that 
cholera, roup, gapes and kindred diseases do not destroy 
more flocks than they do. Where shelter is provided at all, 
it is frequently permitted to become so filthy as to breed 
vermin and disease. Large numbers of poor, ill-fed fowls 
are obliged to roost on trees and fences, and thus have to 
withstand winter’s storms, and the chill rains of spring and 
autumn. : 
Many feel a distrust of all poultry breeders on account of 
the impositions of unprincipled breeders. This business in 
the past has afforded a fine field for dishonest operations, and 
there were many who were not slow to avail themselves of 
the opportunity. Much of this distrust is not without suffi- 
cient cause, for there is no question but the confidence of the 
public has been shamefully abused. Inferior fowls have 
been sent out at prices which ought to have commanded the 
best of stock. Birds of fine appearance, but impure blood, 
haye been sold as first-class fowls. Eggs have been sent out 
which were not what they were represented to be. But the 
time is well nigh past when these men can thus practice 
their impositions. The poultry journals, the numerous ex- 
hibitions, and, above all, the National Association, by bring- 
ing together breeders from all parts of the land, will serve 
to expose the dishonest, and eventually drive them to some 
other more profitable field of operations. We ought to be 
so careful in the admission of members to the Association, 
that membership in it will come to be regarded as an assur- 
ance of a breeder’s integrity. The resolutions adopted at 
Boston have the right ring, and will do much to restore 
public confidence. Let every one who proposes a new name 
tor membership be ready to vouch for the integrity of the 
applicant, and let no man of doubtful character be admitted. 
If the general public could have looked in on the Conven- 
tion at Buffalo it would have done more to remove prejudice 
than any number of newspaper articles. Many in the body 
were men of means, of culture, and of high social position ; 
men actively engaged, professionally or in business, who 
have found poultry breeding not only a pleasant diversion, 
but also a source of profit. 
If the National Association fulfills its present promise, 
and I doubt not it will, it will render invaluable aid in 
various ways to State and local organizations, and will 
greatly assist in establishing the poultry interest on a firm 
basis. F. R. W. 



Gorrespowtence. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
Mr. Epiror. 
Dear Srr: I would like to inquire of you or some of 
your readers if there is any difference between White and 
Pearl Guineas? Also, whether Muscovy and Plata Ducks 
are not the same? I remain respectfully yours, EH. W. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
Mr. Jos. M. Wanpz, 
Dear Sir: Lhavea Light Brahma pullet six months 
old, that weighs eight pounds, which laid an egg 7} inches 
by 64 inches, and weighs 54 ounces. She has laid several 
large eggs, but this is the largest one. Yours truly, 
G. MacrEapy. 
Sioux City, Iowa. 
+e 
(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
EpiTorR FANCIERS’ JOURNAL: 
Your correspondent, Mrs. D., of Iowa, gives the very 
reason—according to my experience—why her eggs that she 
used last, beat better than the others, in the words ‘ although 
older.” We keep hens, therefore have fresh eggs, but I 
always take my oldest eggs when beating for cake, especially 
for frosting, as new laid eggs may foam some, but settle 
back into liquid if left a short time, when older eggs would 
have kept stiff. I have known this reason to have been 
given by bakers. Mrs. D. might keep some of her non-fer- 
tile eggs three weeks or more and see if they do not beat as 
light as the others. Respectfully, &c., 
Mrs. R. 
PROVIDENCE, March 27, 1874. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
Mr. Jos. M. WADE. 
Dear Sir: I noticed in Fanciers’ Journal for March 26, 
a communication from Mr. A. K. Martin, asking what 
poultry breeders mean when they offer“ standard fowls for 
sale.” 
Whenever I see the term in an advertisement, or circular, 
I consider that the one using it, is either ignorant of what a 
standard fowl should be, or else is endeavering to deceive his 
customers. I have owned, bred, and sold a great many hun- 
dred (perhaps a thousand) fowls, and I never yet owned, or 
saw a standard bird. I have never yet seen a bird that I 
considered to deserve over ninety-five points, and I can 
count on my fingers all that I have seen entitled to.over 
ninety. 
To say that a bird is standard, is to assert that he is per- 
fect ; “that there is not a feather, not a point—either in shape, 
size, symmetry or condition—that can be improved. It must 
be evident to every thinking man, that no educated and 
respectable fancier would make any such assertion as this. 
It would be well, perhaps, to class such men in the same 
category with those who advertise their fowls as the best in 
the world. In the latter case, however, we understand that 
the world meant, is their own little world of half a dozen 
admiring friends and neighbors, beyond which, their range 
Yours truly, 
,_ A. M. HALSTED. 
of vision cannot penetrate. 
Rye, N. Y., March 28, 1874. 
