AMERICAN J'OV-LTKY ASSOCIATION 



INTRODUCTION 



THAT the reader may get a correct understanding of the 

 scope and purposes of both the American Standard of 

 Perfection and the separate Breed Standards, a few explan- 

 atory statements will be made at this point. First, the separate 

 Breed Standards are designed to supplement the Standard of 

 Perfection and not to supplant it. Again, the Standard of Per- 

 fection is a fully illustrated, well printed, and neatly bound 

 volume of 368 pages; that gives a complete though necessarily 

 somewhat concise description of all breeds and varieties recog- 

 nized by the American Poultry Association as Standard-bred 

 poultry, as well as illustrations of both the ideal male and female 

 of most of the leading varieties ; also, rules by which all breeds 

 and varieties are judged at the poultry exhibitions of the United 

 States and Canada, and graphic illustrations of ideal combs, 

 feather markings, and the most serious defects of standard-bred 

 fowls in shape, color, and markings. It is the poultry breeder's 

 official guide, and is almost indispensable to all who are directly 

 interested in the breeding of what is commonly known as "pure- 

 bred fowls." 



For the separate Breed Standard, it has been argued that the 

 average breeder who keeps only a single breed or variety is not 

 as much interested in the description of the many other breeds 

 found in this Standard. In practical application, he wants and 

 greatly needs more than this that is, reliable, practical instruc- 

 tion in how to mate and care for fowls of the particular breeds 

 in which he is interested, in order that he may be able to produce 

 as large a proportion as possible of specimens that shall approach 

 closely to the ideals described and presented in the Standard of 

 Perfection. 



The present volume, as the first of the Separate Breed Stand- 

 ards represents a conscientious effort on the part of the commit- 

 tee to render this service to the breeders of Plymouth Rocks. 

 This book contains everything that appears in the Standard of 

 Perfection that relates directly to Plymouth Rocks. In addition 

 it gives full detailed information on the breeding, exhibiting, 

 rearing and marketing of such fowls. 



Obviously, it is impossible for this committee to formulate 

 definite rules, the application of which may be expected to bring 



