PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 363 



Prime Requisites Overlooked. There are, moreover, some 

 qualities which must be considered that are usually overlooked 

 as Standard qualities, though they should not be. Health, 

 vigor and a generally attractive appearance are surely most 

 essential considerations in final selection by exhibitors of long 

 experience. It is clearly the intention of the Standard to make 

 these requirements of prime importance. Health is demanded 

 under the section of "condition," with but an allowance of 

 four points, it is true, but even at that it is next to impossible 

 for a bird to win unless it is in perfect health, or we might 

 better say, in good condition, which means more, including 

 both good health and good feather. It is not necessary that a 

 specimen should lose the total allotment of four points to 

 have a cut on condition fatal to his chance of winning. Often 

 a loss of one point or even of one-half a point in this section is 

 fatal. It is generally essential that the bird be perfectly con- 

 ditioned, if it is to be a possible winner, and such a condition 

 is acquired only by perfect health, which is confirmed, per- 

 haps, by the fact that it has already been selected as a candi- 

 date, which should be reaffirmed by closest examination. To 

 win in close competition without this quality would be difficult, 

 but alone it is not enough to win in good competition, though 

 it is sufficient many times to win the admiration of both the 

 novice and the expert; that of the latter for only a limited 

 period, however, and that period comparative to the degree of 

 his proficiency. 



Comparison of Candidates. During this process many things 

 must be taken into consideration besides comparing one section 

 with another for shape, for color, or for both. These are : The 

 condition of the bird, the health, development in regard to shape, 

 in regard to plumage, weight, time of show, or length of time 

 available for process of conditioning. 



When the time for the final consideration of the different 

 candidates with these requisites in mind draws near, much 

 depends on whether the show is to be judged by score cards or 

 comparison. For one thing, when the score card system is 

 to be used, weight becomes of much importance. A bird that 

 is a pound underweight loses according to standard rules two 

 points, and the ones which are so handicapped must excel one- 

 half of one point in four sections to get on even terms with 

 one not thus handicapped. This statement gives the reader an 

 idea of the handicap of underweight, yet it is not unusual to 

 see specimens on exhibition more than a pound underweight, 



