1'LYMOl TH A'0('/v STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 295 



and weak, failing in continuity and lacking in strength, intensity 

 and lustre. Often, only at the end and then for no greater extent 

 than an inch or less does a real stripe appear. So that if we 

 adhere to the ideals of old, or to present ideals in males, there 

 are still advantages to be gained by the double-mating system, 

 because we can more easily conform to Standard requirements 

 in these sections, that is, we can more easily obtain solid black 

 breasts, and rear body sections, as well as stronger or more 

 metallic striping in male hackles and saddles. 



The Popularity of Single Matings. Some breeders object to 

 double matings because amateurs cannot understand them, and 

 small breeders have no room for them. This causes the novice 

 to look for simpler problems, or, in other words, to take up the 

 breeding of some variety regarded as less difficult. The idea is 

 prevalent that double mating is a disadvantage to any variety. 

 Single mating is then practiced to create or maintain popularity 

 rather than to produce superior specimens. As a commercial 

 expediency, it may be wisdom to develop Partridge Rocks along 

 single mating lines. That will manifestly depend upon the senti- 

 ment of the times. This much is granted : that as long as breed- 

 ers will adhere to the practice of single matings, they will meet 

 in the show room upon even ground, because all their specimens 

 will be produced by single mating. There can be no complaint 

 of unfair advantages. In breeding, much attention must be paid 

 to the penciling and color of the females. Should the develop- 

 ment of these female characters produce males that are not of 

 sufficient exhibition merit to be satisfactory to the breeder, it is 

 obvious that females with stronger striping and with less pencil- 

 ing in the hackle must be selected to produce males of greater 

 exhibition merit. 



The Ideal Mating. The mating sought at the present time is 

 one that will produce both exhibition males and females of suffi- 

 cient quality to win. Such a mating usually consists of a male 

 of rich red, though not dark enough nor deep enough in shade 

 to obscure the black stripe in neck and saddle ; as even in the 

 red shade of neck, shoulders, back and saddle as possible; with 

 some red in fluff feathers, and possibly a little in body and lower 

 breast feathers may be tolerated in many matings and even 

 sought in a few. Such a male is now considered fairly good 

 exhibition color, notwithstanding minor discrepancies when com- 

 pared with the Standard description. It will be noticed that the 

 fluff or soft feathers back of and between the thighs may be 



