ORIGIN AND DESCRIPTION OF BREEDS 37 



table fowl. As a result there is more uniformity in the 

 barring, for example, than in the proportion of edible meat 

 to bone in the Plymouth Rock. As a rule the Plymouth 

 Rock is too heavily boned for a fine table fowl. 



Another objection to the Plymouth Rock and other gen- 

 eral-purpose breed may be urged; the "Standard" weight 

 is larger than is demanded by the great body of consumers. 

 The general-purpose fowl should fill a general purpose 

 demand. ' ' The Standard ' ' weight for the Plymouth Rock is 

 9~y 2 pounds for the cock and iy 2 for the hen. If the judge 

 must not cut for over-size they are placed practically in 

 the Asiatic class so far as size is concerned. And as the 

 size is increased the breed is getting that much away from 

 the general purpose type. Increasing the size does not 

 necessarily mean better meat qualities. 



A fowl that exceeds 7 or 8 pounds in weight borders too 

 closely on the Asiatic or meat type for a general-purpose 

 fowl. When it reaches 8 or 10 pounds it gets into a special 

 class and there must be a special market for it. The de- 

 mand is limited for the large meat type of fowl, and if the 

 poultry raiser is to meet the requirements of the largest 

 body of consumers he must breed a fowl of medium size. 

 It would be an economic mistake to advocate a large fowl 

 of Asiatic type for the general farmer, because if all were 

 to adopt that type it would mean one of two things: The 

 cutting of the consumption of poultry in two, or cutting 

 the price in half. There is a greater demand for a fowl 

 weighing 4 to 5 pounds dressed than for one of any other 

 size. The problem then for the breeders of a general-pur- 

 pose fowl is to adhere to a type that will meet the largest 

 consuming demand, and then develop laying qualities on 

 that basis. 



Again, breeders of the Plymouth Rock might render a 

 real service if they should eliminate the tendency of the 



