PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 311 



"The first crosses and the results obtained were as follows : 

 Light Brahma males with strong markings were mated to extra 

 large White Plymouth Rock females with small, well-defined 

 combs, bright, clean yellow legs and true Rock type. The result 

 was large, vigorous, sturdy youngsters with no particular fixed 

 type or color markings to any certain degree, yet Rock type 

 predominated and the Brahma color in many specimens showed 

 clearly that it was firmly seated. There was a variety of combs 

 and feathered shanks were a prominent defect, but some few 

 male birds were exceptional specimens showing the latter fault 

 in only a moderate degree and with color nearly equal to their 

 sires. These males were mated in two ways, back to their dame, 

 which were designated as Flock A, and to the best pullets 

 selected from the original cross, which were designated as Flock 

 B. Flock A produced birds especially good in type, good comb 

 and fairly clean shanks, but weak in color of hackle, wing and 

 tail. The offspring from Flock B averaged good in color, show- 

 ing exceptionally strong hackles and tails, but with poor combs, 

 type and more leg feathers. The next mating consisted of the 

 more desirable specimens reared from Flocks A and B ; also 

 pullets from Flock A back to the best male from the original 

 cross. The specimens from these, matings showed a decided 

 improvement, some individuals having clean legs with good type 

 and color and quite even, well balanced combs. At this point 

 the best specimens were still far from what was desired, yet it 

 was evident that the new variety had been created." 



We have, then, clear and authentic accounts of the different 

 sources of the foundation stock of this variety. They are, as 

 nearly as we can determine, principally Light Brahmas and 

 White Plymouth Rocks, with a strong influence of single-combed 

 Columbian Wyandotte Sports and a somewhat less influence of 

 Barred Plymouth Rock blood. Besides these established lines 

 of blood we have the unknown male of Mr. Clemans' that in 

 some unaccountable way betook to, himself very much the ap- 

 pearance of the, as yet, unestablished ideal. 



After the variety reached a stage where a general interchange 

 of birds occurs between breeders of the different strains, it 

 became impossible to trace blood lines. Accounts must then re- 

 late the progress of the breeds as to quality, popularity, etc. 



