PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 205 



from these sections when the hen lays eggs. Therefore, when 

 selecting for color, the stage of growth in which you find the 

 feathers and the length of laying period should be taken into 

 consideration. 



Excel in Conformation. Breeding White Plymouth Rocks 

 differs in no particular from breeding the other varieties of 

 Plymouth Rocks as far as conformation is concerned, but it is 

 understood that White Plymouth Rocks are of one color and 

 should be of a single tone or shade of that color and on that 

 account particular attention may be paid to shape characteristics. 

 The White variety is expected to excel in shape. Shape features 

 of importance in which they may be expected to excel are : The 

 full, round, deep breast, long and deep body and well-propor- 

 tioned abdomen. The best formation is a body that is evenly 

 poised on shanks with about an equal proportion of breast and 

 body in front, and a like amount of body and abdomen in the 

 rear of the shanks. 



In the breeding of fowls of all kinds it must be remembered 

 that size, shape, general formation and color, must all of them 

 have due consideration. If any one of the first three is lacking, 

 the fowls do not conform to breed description ; if the color is 

 poor, the variety distinction is faulty ; the best quality in all of 

 these features is demanded for white fowls. 



Size and Quality. Hens that conform to the Standard de- 

 scription are the best. They should be fully as large as Standard 

 requirements suggest, not large by weight through being overly 

 fat, but large and well proportioned for the breed. These hens 

 must be true Plymouth Rocks in every sense. They will answer 

 best if almost entirely free from shape defects. 



Overcoming Defects. There may be a possible chance to 

 overcome a defect in one section of a hen by having superior 

 quality in the same section of her mate, but the continued prac- 

 tice of mating good or true quality on both sides will bring the 

 best results. 



Selection. To succeed in the breeding of pure white plum- 

 age, fowls with this kind of plumage should be selected, and, if 

 in addition, they have produced offspring with pure white plum- 

 age, these are the best selections possible. Careful attention 

 must be given to both breeding and feeding, as well as to the 

 selection year after year for the shade of color most desired, 

 which in this case is pure white. 



The best way to produce pure white plumage in White Plym- 

 outh Rocks is to select for breeding such fowls as show Standard 



