200 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



(c) The general purpose or American class, the type popu- 

 lar among the people generally. This type combines two 

 characteristics to a high degree egg production and meat. 

 The breeds especially notable are Plymouth Rocks, Wyan- 

 dottes, Rhode Island Reds, and Orpingtons. 



The Plymouth Rocks are fowls that weigh from 6 to 10 

 pounds. They are a very hardy breed and lay good-sized 



The ability to produce a great many eggs is not a matter 

 of breed, but of breeding or strain. The individual must be 

 selected and bred with reference to its particular character- 

 istic, whether it be appearance, plumage, meat weight, egg- 

 laying power, or what not. This principle holds good with 

 all classes of fowls, even with the meat class. The Langshans 

 in Australia, for instance, often lead the list in the egg-lay- 

 ing contests there. The Mediterranean type is capable of 

 being developed into great layers. 



The Plymouth Rocks were the first American breed to be 

 developed. They were given their name solely for patriotic 

 reasons. 



The Wyandottes. The second American breed to be devel- 

 oped was the Wyandotte, an Indian name. They are about 

 one pound smaller than the Plymouths ; that is, they weigh 

 from 51/2 to S 1 /^ pounds and are very compact and round. 

 The Wyandotte is called the bird of curves. For broilers 

 of from % to 2 pounds, they develop rapidly. The birds of 

 the meat class are not best to eat, usually, until they weigh 

 about 3 or 4 pounds. 



The Wyandottes have a rose comb or double comb, which 



