658 FANCIERS’ 
JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 

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Sfarcmas J OURNAL wo) OULTRY (Fxcuancs, 
JOSEPH M. WADE, Editor and Proprietor. 
A. N. Raus, Associate Editor. 
Published Semi-Monthly at 39 N. Ninth St., Philadelphia. 
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT. 

GOOD BREEDING STOCK. 
THE importance of selecting only the best stock for breed- 
ing purposes has been so often and so ably urged, by the 
correspondents of this and similar journals, that we feel in 
referring to it, as if we were but adding something to the 
already full measure. And yet, it needs but a casual glance 
at the great mass of stock (particularly poultry) to see that 
this advice has not been in a great measure heeded. 
It is true that immense strides in progress in poultry cul- 
ture have been taken within the past few years, and hun- 
dreds now own fancy poultry, where a few years ago but 
a few individuals in each section of the country were the 
fortunate possessors. And yet, with all our progress, it is a 
mere drop in the bucket. P 
High prices and sharp practice in a measure have done 
much to keep the farmer from investing largely in the im- 
proved breeds. First-class breeders with a first-class strain 
of stock have, of course, the right to be remunerated for 
their care and expense in producing an improved strain; 
and, it is no fault of theirs that the country is not supplied 
with better stock. But now and then unprincipled or inex- 
perienced breeders demand first-class prices for third and 
fourth rate stock, and the buyer is of course disappointed 
and sets his face thereafter sternly against the improved 
breeds, as being largely a humbug. We have a friend who 
has been the victim of such practices several times, and but 
for his strong love and fancy for blooded stock, he declares 
that he would long ago have quitit. His first Houdans from 
a pedigree prize strain cost him twenty-five dollars a trio, and 
neither they nor their progeny ever showed a sign of the ne- 
cessary beard. His first Light Brahmas, not more than four 
years ago, hatched three-fourth single combs. Practice of 
this kind on the part of the dealer who sold him his stock 
is inexcusable, and can only be legitimately classed as a 
fraud. Anditis practice of this kind which makes the farmer 
and general poultryman shy of fanciers and poultry dealers. 

a 
Mr. W. W. Clark, 1218 North Third St., this city, 
has recently purchased Mr. Yewdall’s entire stock of Afri- 
can Owls, consisting of Whites, Blues, and Blacks, many | 
of which are very choice, and brought high prices. Mr. 
Clark is one of our oldest fanciers and dealers, and has 
always a well stocked loft of many rare varieties. 

seo 

us as follows: ‘The old goose I wrote you about has 
arrived, with the statement of her several owners—certifying 
to the fact that she was hatched in the year 1803—making 
her seventy-one years old. She is clear white in color, and 
bids fair to sail over into the next century.” 
We believe it is the intention of Mr. Atwood to place 
this aged specimen. of the goose family on exhibition at 
some of the leading shows, this fall and winter, where, no 
doubt, she will attract much attention on account of her 
great age. 

Stina 
__C. Woop, taxidermist, of this city, while in company with 
Mr. Ed. Woolman, shot an Albino Tern,@r Sea Swallow. 
Although Mr. Wood has had a lifetime experience with 
birds he never saw or heard of a white Tern before. This is 
the bird from which the Swallow Pigeon is said to take its 
name, the markings of which are very similar. Mr. Wood 
also recently shot a black-crested and throated Titmouse, 
the first one he ever heard of. This bird must be either a 
sport, or a cross between the common-crested Titmouse and 
the Black Cap Titmouse. 

Jos—EPpH M. WADE. 
Dear Sir: Those copies of the Fanciers’ Journal and post- 
ers were received in season. I went tothe Connecticut River 
Valley Fair, and put up one of the posters by the poultry coops. 
It attracted more attention than the poultry did. Several 
printers remarked especially on the excellence of the printing ; 
said it was the best specimen of the kind they ever saw, the 
type was so clear. I handed a few copies of the Journal to some 
that will send direct to you. I think you will receive sev- 
eral new names soon. I heard but one objection, viz., ‘‘ The 
Journal would be short-lived, and we shall not get the year’s 

numbers.’’ I think the story originated with one of the 
agents of the , which has not tried to help you, to say 
the least. 
I have heard several fanciers say, ‘‘ that in the future they 
should advertise in the Fanciers’ Journal instead of the 
monthlies.’? I shall send you a card soon. I have been 
advised to advertise instead of having circulars printed. 
Now, I do not know anything about you (only by reputa- 
tion), or your ability (financially) to continue the Journal, 
but I hope you will ‘stick,’ for it will certainly pay. I 
have heard several say they should drop their monthlies at 
the end of the year, and take the Jowrnal.. 
I see by the last copy of the Journal that A. N. Raub is 
Associate Editor. I also noticed the article headed ‘ Delin- 
quents.’”” Now, 1 think it would be well (if you have no 
such intention of discontinuing) to state your intention of 
| making a permanent thing of the Journal. I do not know 
how I should get along without it now; had rather have it 
than all the poultry monthlies in the United States. 
| You have lost money by offending some of the “ big bugs” 
among the fanciers, but the Journal is getting the name 
among us ‘‘small fry”’ of being honest and reliable. I hope 
you will not have a long-winded history of Brahmas by 
| some old breeder. 
[ We leave off the name and address of the writer of the 
_above, for the same reason that we have omitted to publish 
-many otherwise good letters from our best friends. No mat- 
_ter what the agents of other poultry papers say of our Jour- 
nal, we shall keep on our way and continue to make it what 
we think it ought to be, and if we do not succeed in making 

Tus Rev. Mr. Atwood, of Big Flats, New York, writer Some enemies we shall consider that our labor has been 
wasted. A journal without enemies would not be worth the 
reading ; and as to the ‘‘ big bugs”? not liking the Journal, 
when worthy (?) presidents offer $100 in gold as a special 
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