394 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



a nest. If the start is made by purchasing eggs, the buildings 

 and equipment can be built as requirements demand. 



Quality, Health and Vigor. When starting in this way, 

 the first thing to do is to select the breeder from whom the 

 eggs are to be bought. As distance is no bar, if eggs are 

 packed and handled properly, the main point to be considered 

 is the quality of the stock that the breeder can and will sell. 

 When referring to quality, we mean how closely the stock 

 approximates the requirements of the American Standard of 

 Perfection and described, so far as they affect each variety of 

 Plymouth Rocks, in this book; and also, whether the same 

 stock possesses the health and vitality which is so necessary 

 for success. These things are of equal importance, because 

 one's success as a breeder of standard-bred fowls depends on 

 his having stock good enough to command good prices, and it 

 also depends on his having stock with the health and strength 

 which will make it productive, not only of good color, but of 

 plenty of eggs and meat. It should be particularly noted that 

 it is very difficult to produce the quality of stock in any variety 

 of Plymouth Rocks which will sell for high prices from any 

 except a line, or family, of healthy fowls. 



Buy of a Specialist. It is very satisfactory to see the stock 

 from which one buys eggs if it is convenient to do so, but 

 almost all of the buying of eggs is done by mail and breeders 

 with reputations to sustain can be depended on to deal justly 

 with those who send to them for eggs for hatching. It is 

 always best to buy of a breeder who has a good reputation, 

 because it is difficult to build up such a reputation except by 

 breeding good stock and giving good value when filling orders. 

 Almost invariably the specialist is the best one to buy from, 

 for the specialist has more and better stock of his breed or 

 variety than one who attempts to breed or handle and sell a 

 great many different varieties. This is not intended to cast 

 reflections on the reputable and successful breeder who handles 

 two, three, or even half a dozen varieties and who has suc- 

 ceeded with all of them. Our readers will understand, how- 

 ever, why it is impossible for any man, or associated group of 

 men, to successfully breed, raise and sell high quality stock 

 of many different varieties. 



Prices of Hatching Eggs. Prices should be made a minor 

 consideration. The main point is to get good eggs from good 

 stock and while a few dollars more in the price of the eggs 

 amounts to but little, the difference in the value of the chickens 



