PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 309 



in 1907, when I 'brought out' the breed through the columns of 

 the American Poultry Journal, naming them 'Light Plymouth 

 Rocks' in honor of their Light Brahma Plymouth Rock origin. 

 My early crosses were made with the best obtainable blood of 

 the Light Brahma, Barred Plymouth Rocks, White Plymouth 

 Rocks and good boned Columbian Wyandottes. I also used at 

 that time a male bird of unknown origin, but almost ideal mark- 

 ings which I was so fortunate as to find in the flock of a friend. 

 The years of breeding have since obliterated undesirable mark- 

 ings of the original blood used, and I have been signally suc- 

 cessful in holding to the true Plymouth Rock type. This has 

 been the aim in my breeding to secure real Rock type and com- 

 bine it with the beautiful and much desired color of the Light 

 Brahma." 



Type Important in Early Columbians. How great impor- 

 tance Mr. Clemans attached to true Plymouth Rock type that 

 is, the large-boned sort, in distinction to fine-boned birds obvi- 

 ously of Wyandotte origin, is well brought out by the following 

 extract taken from a report of the Philadelphia (1911) show: 



"The 'Columbian' Plymouth Rocks shown by the originator 

 show the results he has attained in establishing his Big-Boned 

 Rock type of Columbian Rocks. His first and third cocks, each 

 weighing 10^ pounds, were regular models in Rock type, also 

 showing grand color. His cockerel weighed 9 pounds, was also a 

 rare beauty and a most desirable bird. His pen, with cock 

 weighing 11 pounds and hens from 7 1 /* to 8 l / 2 pounds each, was 

 a rare collection of the best of quality ; in fact, we were much 

 pleased to see this size with excellent color and very choice 

 shape." 



The following discussion of type should be accredited to Mr. 

 Clemans : 'The value of Rock type cannot be too strongly em- 

 phasized. It is even more important than color. The beginner 

 must avoid being led into the purchase of the modern Wyan- 

 dotte 'sports.' The popularity of Columbian Rocks has brought 

 upon the market these little imitations of the breed. Some of 

 them are bred by unscrupulous breeders who wish to get money 

 out of the demand for the breed and then drop out. Others are 

 being bred and sold by amateurs who know no better. The 

 breeding of such stock can only end in disappointment. 



