44 



POULTRY BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT 



country. This breed originated on the farms as a prac- 

 tical fowl and with little or no thought of making a new 

 breed ; that it has gained so great a popularity is proof that 

 the poultry-keepers are alive to the importance of utility 

 qualities. 



Considerable obscurity naturally attaches to its origin. 

 It is believed, however, that its foundation was the com- 

 mon farm fowl on which were crossed breeds of Asiatic 



RHODE ISLAND REDS 

 (Courtesy, Howard H. Keim, Oregon.) 



as well as Mediterranean blood. There is only one variety 

 of Keds, though there are both single and rose comb 

 strains. 



McGrew says that this breed is: " The result of fifty years 

 of careful outbreeding, and it would have been better for 

 the stamina of many of our breeds if they had been bred on 

 the same plan, instead of inbred." To Dr. N. B. Aldrich of 

 Fall River, Mass., is generally given the credit of intro- 

 ducing the Rhode Island red to the public as a new breed. 



