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Show FANCY AND UTILITY IN FOWLS. The Proper Basis on Which All Shuld Build. Generally speaking, the term "fancy," as applied to standard-bred poultry, means fowls that are bred with a view to developing the perfection of certain paternal pa-ternal characteristics embodied in various shapes of the different set-tons. By "utl-ity" "utl-ity" we mean usually that the fowl has been developed along the line of greatest great-est value from a market standpoint, which is based upon the number of eggs it will lay and the quality and quantity of them which it will produce. An ideal fowl should have combned in its makeup make-up both fancy and utility points. This can be accomplished, although it is easy to find supposedly well informed breeders breed-ers who emphatically declare that It cannot. can-not. The fancier is too often unjustly accused of having' no desire to intensify the utility points of his fowls. There are no doubt some who are so unwise as to not give the matter as much attention as it deserves, but they do not represent the rank and tile of fanciers. Those who breed fowls with the sole view of fine, plumage or perfection of parts will sooner or later be brought up with a short turn and find that nature has re-toelled re-toelled against the violation of her laws by giving us a lot, of undersized weaklings weak-lings or practically no value from any standpoint. Health, vigor and a strong constitution are some of the cardinal principles in thev foundation upon which the fancier must build if he attains lasting last-ing success. The fancier should bo juqt as desirous of developing heavy laying ip bis birds as is the utility breeder, for in this way he perpetuates his Hocks and increases his profits, both in the sale of eggs for hatching and in being able to rear a large number of birds. Utility Is the starting point from which most fanciers fan-ciers develop, and most utility beginners develop into fanciers . There is no law of nature which makes fine plumage antagonistic an-tagonistic to the laying- tendency when the two features are intelligently and rightly obtained. It is an incontrovertible fact that standard-bred birds, or, in other words, pure breeds, will lay as many, if not more, eggs than will scrub fowls under equally favorable conditions. It is also true that in any stock of standard-bred fowls will be found specimens which will grade better than some others, as judged by the standard bred, which will, at the same time, lay just as many eggs as will the best of those which are not their equals in standard markings. It should be the aim of the breeder to select se-lect for his breeding pens the first-men- tirnf1 cl:ia! rf birds And thprehv onmhtno both characteristics of the progeny. This is the course pursued by the fancier who reaches the highest point in Improving his stock, and who attains the most laudable laud-able end. Why should not the strictly utility breeder adopt the same motheds? He is supposed to be in the business for profit alone, and certain It is that such management would bring him greater returns re-turns financially. Why should he be -content to sell his eggs in the market for is 3d per dozen when by proper selection in breeding he can get from 5s to l.'.s per setting for them? And why should he dispose of his stockj for table purposes when at least a portion of it will just as easily sell for fanciers' prices? The utility breeder who cries down the fancy is oftentimes the one who has not the ability or inclination to reach out and improve, as does his more enterprising neighbor. American poltry journals give full credit to the practical value of fowls, and advocate that this practical or utility value is the basis upoh which we all should build, but we are not satis-lied satis-lied to remain content with this crude and primitive condition., Fancy and utility can be combined in one and the same fowl, and therein lies the greatest pleasure and profit, -as is fully attested ln the various standard breeds. ' 1 |
