108 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



are desirable, but few; being few they are in great demand. 

 Breeders wish to mate their stock in such manner as to produce 

 the greatest number of these light-colored pullets. Every year 

 in which the lightest colored pullets are used successfully tends 

 to fix a lighter shade on the female side. The light-colored 

 cockerel and the black hen draw in opposite directions. Can the 

 Plymouth Rocks be so changed by breeding as to approximate, 

 and finally draw together ? Perhaps so and perhaps not. It can 

 only be accomplished, if at all, by patience and effort in the right 

 direction. It never will be done by persistently using a light 

 cock. The change must be gradual." 



These paragraphs set forth clearly the work that the Barred 

 Plymouth Rock breeders had before them as well as supplying 

 a description of the tools with which they had to work. Stod- 

 dard gives us further information by describing the three 

 matings which he considers necessary to accomplish the objects 

 of the Barred Plymouth Rock breeders. 



"It will be advisable for the breeder to make three matings. 

 In the first place, all the lightest cockerels and all the darkest 

 pullets should be rejected as unRj : >to breed. Then much atten- 

 tion should be given to the color of the legs. It is very impor- 

 tant that a breeding cockerel should have not only legs yellow, 

 but very yellow legs. 'The pullets at first cannot be found in 

 considerable numbers with pure yellow legs, but after culling 

 out all that show glaring imperfections and those very light 

 or very dark, take of the remainder those pullets that are the 

 darkest and mate them with one of the lightest cockerels not near 

 akin. This mating will not produce exhibition cockerels, and 

 the majority of the pullets will be about the color of the dam 

 the lightest will be useful. 



"Then take those pullets a few shades lighter than those of 

 the first mating and mate them with a medium-colored cockerel. 

 This mating will produce a good per cent of standard chicks 

 more especially cockerels. 



"Lastly, place the lightest-colored pullets with a dark-medium 

 cockerel. In this mating the sexes are nearly of one color. 

 Every breeder should make such a mating as this every year. 

 We have conversed with many breeders who have made this 

 practice without getting black chicks, but just so sure as the 

 thing is overdone and you use too dark a cock in the breeding 

 pen you will have a lot of pullets as black as crows, with green- 

 black legs. The whole season's produce may be easily ruined in 



