38 POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



Plymouth Rock to put on excessive abdominal fat. How- 

 ever, this result will largely be secured in breeding for 

 eggs. It will be found that this characteristic is usually 

 absent in the heavy producer. 



In our American breeds many of the Asiatic character- 

 istics are retained. In some respects American ideals differ 

 from European. We get the brown egg from the Asiatics, 

 but this is one of the accidents of choice, for American 

 markets generally prefer the white egg shell. On the other 

 hand we get the yellow leg and skin from the same source, 

 the color preferred in the markets. In England and other 

 European countries, the white skin, it is believed, indicates 

 superior excellence of meat, but with this white flesh they 

 get something they don't want a white egg. Here are 

 apparently antagonistic characteristics, a white egg and a 

 yellow skin in general purpose breeds. Whether it is 

 possible to overcome this barrier of nature remains to be 

 demonstrated. 



Speaking of American breeds, Edward Brown pays a 

 high compliment and at the same time extends a warning 

 to American breeders in the following language: "'That 

 these breeds have proved most valuable additions to our 

 stock is unquestionable, and their wide distribution and 

 universal recognition is a great tribute to American breed- 

 ers, who have kept prominently forward the general 

 economic qualities and not exaggerated special points to the 

 extent met with in Great Britain. Whether that will be 

 so in the future remains to be seen, for present signs are in 

 the direction of an exaltation of fancy points, which would 

 be regrettable." 



If we are to judge from the success of one English 

 breeder in American laying competitions, the warning has 

 been better heeded in England than in America. 



