POULTRY 201 



is a low, fleshy tissue quite different from the single comb 

 that stands up more prominently. This low comb is less 

 exposed to the cold. Some people in the colder sections of 

 the country think it is better to have a breed with the rose 

 comb, but the preference is largely a matter of fancy. 



Rhode Island Reds were the latest breed to be developed 

 in this country. They are believed to be the hardiest and 

 most vigorous of any of our American breeds. They are 

 the same size as the Wyandottes, and a pound smaller than 

 the Plymouth Rocks. Raised under similar conditions, when 

 mature, a Plymouth Rock that is true to her breed and type 

 should weigh a pound more than a Wyandotte or a Rhode 

 Island Red. The Rhode Island Reds are naturally great lay- 

 ers. At several experiment stations it has been demonstrated 

 that they are the great money makers, although some pens 

 of Plymouth Rocks have contested them closely. The Rhode 

 Island Reds lay a large and very perfectly shelled egg. Some 

 say the Rhode Island Reds eggs can be picked out from a 

 basket by touch, because of the marble smoothness of the 

 shell. 



The Orpingtons are an English breed. They are classed 

 with the Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, and Reds because, for 

 the general purposes, they are midway between the light and 

 the heavy in size. They are about half a pound larger than 

 the Plymouth Rock, and are like the other English breed 

 birds in having a white instead of a yellow skin. There is a 

 feeling among a great many people that a yellow skin indi- 

 cates a richness and juiciness of flesh. There are no table 

 birds superior to the Orpingtons. The skin is very tender, 



