204 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ave., 1901. 
break, and from very close relations, for five years, and at the end of that time 
our stock was as large, as healthy, as fertile, and as peouiue as they were the 
first season. We then dispersed the breed on which we tested it thus far, 
although on other breeds we have often practised it, although never for so long 
a period without a break. We do not for a moment advocate the breeding of 
close relations for such a period without the introduction of a single drop of 
fresh blood; we repeat, we deliberately did it as an experiment, in order to 
practically test the outcome of prolonged in-breeding on the progeny of a well- 
selected pair of healthy birds. 
Probably there are few, if any, fanciers of note who do not owe their 
success very largely to a system of scientific in-breeding. One well-known 
judge once told us that so-and-so (a prominent breeder of modern Game fowls) 
had casually mentioned to him that he was thinking of introducing a little fresh 
blood the following season into his strain, ‘“‘as he had not done so for the 
previous seven years.” His strain was almost world famous. 
Long ago, when cockfighting was a legal sport, many strains were so 
carefully guarded, and the dread of deterioration from alien blood was so great, 
that some remained uncrossed for over twenty years. 
IN OTHER REALMS OF NATURE 
the closest in-breeding prevails. Among freshwater fish it is universal; birds 
of almost every species, the wild deer, game of all kinds, the wild horses of the 
plains of South America, and we have no doubt hordes of savage animals, all 
live under this law. Finally, we must all admit that the abominable rodent 
known as the rat is a most prolific animal. We doubt if in all creation there 
is any animal which lives and breeds so incestuously as the rat. If in-breeding 
was an unmitigated evil, it would soon disappear off the face of the earth, but 
we all know whether it is likely to do that or not. 
Again, all our best strains of cattle, horses, sheep, and !dogs have been 
brought to a high pitch of excellence by a judicious system of in-breeding. 
To the utility breeder of fowls, is the system of much use? It is useful, 
certainly, even to him; but as he has little inclination, as a rule, to treat the 
subject scientifically, he is safer to let it alone. It comes in useful this way : 
if a man has brought out a specially good laying strain and does not know very 
well where to get a male bird from an equally good strain to keep up the 
quality of his birds, his best plan is to acquire a Nea with the reputation of 
being a first-class layer, cross Wek with one of his own cockerels, and retain the 
males produced as breeders with his’ own flock for future seasons. This will 
keep up laying qualities with far greater certainty than introducing a chance 
cock from another strain, with no positive knowledge of what he is likely to 
do.—k. G., in Harmer and Stockbreeder. 
GRAFTING WAX. 
Rosin, 4 parts (by weight); beeswax, 2 parts; tallow, 1 part. These 
ingredients are to be melted together, slowly, and thoroughly mixed. In about 
twenty minutes the compound will be ready to pull like toffy, and a convenient 
portion of the melted mass is then poured into a bucket containing cold water. 
Very soon it will be cool enough to take out and work with the hands—which 
must be greased with tallow (not too much) before lifting it out: this in order 
to prevent the wax from sticking to the hands. When worked until it becomes 
pale yellow in colour it has been pulled enough. and it may be made into balls 
(or rolls) of convenient size, and placed in cold water (ina different vessel from 
the first) to harden. This process is to be followed up so long as there is any 
of the melted mixture remaining. The rolls (or balls) are then put away, to be 
ready when required. This wax stands the weather well. 
