PARTRIDGE PLYMOUTH ROCKS 



157 



Hageman's stock had a minor influence on the variety, while Noftz- 

 ger of Indiana was an extensive breeder, a heavy advertiser, a fre- 

 quent exhibitor, and had the advantage of an established reputation 

 as a breeder of Partridge Cochins. His yards became a fertile source 

 of supply of this new variety for breeders all over the country. 



Noftzger gives up Partridge Cochins. When the profusely feath- 

 ered English Cochin was attracting so much attention at the leading 

 American poultry shows in the 1890's, and American breeders began 

 to ape the English hobbiests in breeding the longest, loosest feather- 



A Pair of Partridge Cochins, drawn by Sewell in 1899, about which time 

 the variety was at its height. The Partridge Cochin was a parent of the" 

 modern Partridge Plymouth Rock. 



ing possible in their Cochins, Noftzger found that he would either 

 have to cross English blood into his Partridge Cochins or sell his 

 birds at market prices. Along with the other fanciers of the day, he 

 infused the English blood into his flock and began to breed a full 

 feathered type. The decline of the Cochin now set in; the generous 

 proportions of that type which had given the breed the name of the 

 grand Cochin, were sacrificed for adbundance and length of feather. 

 A short leg was bred and the bone in the remainder of the frame work 

 decreased in proportion. The birds became more dependent upon 



