66 Farm Poultry 



quite so well fixed in their distinguishing characters 

 as the Barred. It is asserted that the White Ply- 

 mouth Rocks originated as an off-shoot from the 

 Barred Plymouth Rocks early in the history of 

 the latter.* The Plymouth Rock form predominates 

 in all varieties, and the solid colors have the advan- 

 tage of the Barred in mating, as often, with the 

 Barred, the best formed fowl will be objectionable 

 on account of some imperfection in color, so that 

 it must be discarded from the breeding-pen if charac- 

 teristic colors are desired. 



The White variety is preferred by poultrymen 

 who rear young fowls for market. White fowls 

 present a better appearance when dressed than 

 colored ones do, particularly if the fowls are not 

 in the most perfect condition. Immature fowls 

 of all breeds and varieties have more or less unde- 

 veloped feathers, the removal of which, in colored 

 varieties, leaves a discoloration beneath the skin. 

 On this account, young birds of a white variety 

 that are dressed for the market present a better 

 appearance than equally good birds of a colored 

 variety. As long as attractive appearance is a desired 

 quality in dressed fowls, white varieties will be 

 preferred. 



BUFF PLYMOUTH HOCKS 



The Buff variety of this breed is of more recent 

 origin than those already described. It, however, came 



*"Barred and White Plymouth Rocks," by Wallace. 



