BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS 113 



Felch's old Mark Pitman, and fine in every way." He was mated to 

 "12 nice hens and pullets." In describing his females, Hawkins said: 



I would say that my breeding hens were of the Drake and Oilman strains, and 

 selected with great care as to their fine breeding qualities. My cockerels have been 

 selected for their clean, distinct plumage, yellow legs, low combs and fine symmetry. 

 Will warrant them not to show brassy plumage. 



In 1883, A. C. Hawkins won all firsts and specials at the old Madi- 

 son Square Garden, New York City; and Hawkins' ad occupied the 

 entire back cover of the April, 1883, issue of American Poultry Jour- 

 nal. In this same year E. B. Thompson made his hrst exhibit at New 

 York, and four years later, 1887, won four firsts on Barred Plymouth 

 Rocks at the old wooden Garden in New York City. 



Later on appeared C. H. Welles of Stafford, Conn., C. H. Latham 

 of Lancaster, Mass., and Bradley Bros, of Lee, Mass. With Thomp- 

 son and Hawkins, they formed the great quintet of breeders who 

 occupied the center of the stage for a generation. Other prominent 

 breeders "arrived," particularly Wm. Ellery Bright of Waltham, 

 Mass., and in all America no other men or group of men exerted one 

 iota of influence upon the variety in comparison with the permanent 

 advances made by these great improvers of one of the most valuable 

 races of domesticated animals. 



In 1899, C. H. W T elles won the president's cup, value $100, also 

 the silver challenge trophy cup, value $100, for the best cock, hen 

 cockerel and pullet, at the Garden, and the gold special for the best 

 bird in the show. His complete winnings were 1-2 cocks; 1-2 hens; 

 2-3-4-5 cockerels; 1-2-3 pullets; 1-2-4 pens. 



Bradley Bros, who had secured their start from Hawkins, had 

 come into prominence about 1893 by winning four firsts, four seconds 

 and three thirds at Madison Square Garden, which was the premier 

 I Jarred Rock show of America and the battleground of every pre- 

 tender to the glory of a crown in Barred Rock paradise. 



C. H,. Latham of Lancaster, Mass., was a wood engraver by pro- 

 fession, and, with an eye for detail, took up the breeding of Barred 

 Plymouth Rocks in the early nineties. He specialized in the produc- 

 tion of females. His line was started with th-e 1st prize pullet at the 

 Boston show of 1898, a bird that Latham had bred. This female was 

 the mother of his strain, and with her line of blood, more or less 

 reinforced as time went on, Latham went down the years, improving 

 the quality of his stock as the years passed, and winning 1st hen 

 Philadelphia, 1900; 1st pullet, Philadelphia, 1901; 1st pullet, Boston, 

 1902; 1st pullet, Madison Square, 1903; 1st hen and 1st pullet, Madison 

 Square Garden, 1905; 1st pullet, Madison Square, 1906; 1st hen, Bos- 

 ton, 1907; 1st pullet, Madison Square Garden, 1908; 1st hen and 1st 

 pullet, Boston, 1908; 1st hen and 1st pullet, Boston, 1909; 1st hen and 

 1st pullet, Boston, 1910; 1st hen, Madison Square Garden, 1910; 1st 

 pullet, Madison Square Garden, 1911; 1st pullet, Madison Square 

 Garden, December, 1913, and on the same pullet 1st at Boston. Janu- 



