BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS 107 



cream rises in the milk and is skimmed, that which is worthy rises, 

 and the hand of time separates it. 



Early history enlivened by controversy. As the pleasing and prac- 

 tical form of the Plymouth Rock became established in the minds of 

 breeders, and as its qualities of usefulness became understood among 

 them, it began to be the subject of close study and wide discussion. 

 Controversies arose over its early origin, and were carried on with 

 vigor in the poultry press. One particular point in debate was the 

 influence of the Black Cochin versus the Black Java on the first 

 crosses from which the variety had sprung. The argument centered 

 on the question of whether Black Javas were a separate and distinct 

 variety of clean-legged fowls or whether they were in reality Black 

 Cochins. As we now examine the evidence it points to the fact that 

 "Black Java" was a term used to identify the big, black plumaged 

 fowls of Asiatic origin which were later generally known as Cochins; 

 that the term "Black Java" was interchangeable with "Black Cochin"; 

 and that the "Black Javas" that entered into the origin of the Plym- 

 outh Rock are not the Standard Black Java of today. 



In the early disputations, Upham held that the Asiatic blood 

 was Cochin, while H. S. Ramsdell of Connecticut, as stoutly main- 

 tained that John Giles had introduced a Black Java breed into Con- 

 necticut about 1843, and that these Javas were the forerunner of the 

 Plymouth Rock. On this question of origin, F. H. Corbin, in a mono- 

 graph on "Plymouth Rocks," published in Hartford, Conn., 1879, 

 says: 



The theories advanced were various, and were urged pro and con by many of 

 the leading fanciers of the country. It is a true saying, and one well worthy of 

 acceptance, that all men like to father a success and disown a failure. It proved to 

 he true indeed in this case, for while little was heard or written in regard to them 

 previous to their being exhibited in 1869, and while, in fact, for some years after- 

 wards, they were but little known except to a few prominent breeders, and found 

 only in their yards, no sooner was it generally understood that the most successful 

 cross of the century had been made, and that its characteristics had been suffi- 

 ciently fixed to allow its being admitted into the Standard as a fixed and permanent 

 breed, than numbers of articles from fanciers of well known ability began to appear 

 in poultry papers and journals in regard to them. Most of these writers wielded 

 a trenchant pen, and, for a time, the fate of the subject matter seemed in doubt. 

 The fact that there were apparently several different origins only confounded the 

 discussion and added fuel to the flames. 



The Upham-Ramsdell controversy was conducted with both vigor and bitterness. 

 The conceded ability of these gentlemen, together with their readiness of pen, only 

 magnified the contest, diffused a knowledge of the question among the poultry 

 fraternity and caused others to take up the pen, both as principals and advocates. 

 After a time, it began to be uncertain whether any such breed ever existed and 

 if there was any, where or from whence it sprang. 



Another question intensified the controversy. While all were agreed as to the 

 Plymouth Rock being a "cross-breed," scarcely any two were agreed as to what 

 the cross was. The Black Java, Cochin, Dominique, dunghill, Gray Chittagongs, 

 and English Gray Dorkings, were all named as entering into the cross. 



In the agitation of contrary opinions, a "regular battle of rocks" 

 raged in New England between 1872 and 1875, and as the fight began 



