Fancy Birds.

It must not be presumed that a bird that takes first prize at a poultry-show is the best bird for the farmer. It may be the worst. Most of the pure-bred birds in this country are of the fancy class, and have been bred for showing only. They are deteriorated in useful qualities by in-breeding, by breeding from birds known to be poor layers, or weakly, because they show good points in feathers, by keeping back pullets from laying in order to increase their size, &c. The result is a loss of constitution. The birds themselves are subject to disease, and their chickens hard to rear. The egg-producing qualities have suffered even more. Many breeds once noted for laying have lost their good name through fancy breeding.