CHAPTER V
The Selection of the Breed—The Strain is of Utmost Importance
To a man engaging in any branch of Poultry Culture the selection of the proper breed is of grave importance, but to the man who is planning an Egg Farm it is without doubt of graver importance than where any other branch of the poultry business is to be carried on.
For many years different localities have believed that there was very decided merit in the different colored egg shells. The Culture of Boston was certain that the dark shell contained an egg with a richer flavor, while New York and vicinity would believe in nothing but the white shelled egg. It is, however, noted with interest that the Culture of Boston has discovered that the color of the shell really has nothing to do with the flavor of the egg, and to-day the rigid adherence to a premium paid for the dark shelled egg, generally throughout the New England States, is rapidly passing into history.
THE STRAIN THAT MAKES THE CORNING EGG FARM FAMOUS
As The Corning Egg Farm was located within a few miles of New York City the breeds which laid the white shelled egg were the only ones worthy of consideration, and, in the study of the question, it was found there was another important matter confronting the egg farmer, as to the breed which he should keep, whether a setter, or a non-setter. On an egg farm, where hundreds of layers are to be kept, if any of the Asiatics, or so called American Breeds, were kept, they would be a source of considerable added expense, first, in the way of loss of eggs during their numerous broody periods; second, in the necessary buildings in which to carry the “broody biddies” until they have become sensible, and are in a proper frame of mind to be returned to the Laying House. This might look on its face a small affair, but success to The Corning Egg Farm has come through watching every corner, and while sparing no needed expenditure, avoiding unnecessary and foolish outlay.
So, to the man who would really meet with a large success, all the breeds which lay the dark shelled egg, because of their setting propensity, must be eliminated.
All the members of the Mediterranean family are layers of the white shelled egg, and are what is termed “non-setting.”