22 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: GEORGIA. 



The comb is red in color, and in form what is known as a rose- 

 comb, flat on top and covered above with spikelets, and terminating- 

 in a longer spike at the rear ; ear-lobes and wattles red ; legs yellow, 

 and in size a little above medium. As a combination fowl for the 

 farm they have few superiors. 



There is no breed more popular as a combination fowl than the 

 Plymouth Rocks. They are above medium in size, the cocks 

 weighing ten pounds, and the hens eight, some even exceeding these 

 figures. The hens are good layers, of medium sized, reddish-yellow 

 eggs, which resemble, in size and color, those of the Cochin. They 

 are reasonably good sitters and excellent mothers. The chicks are 

 hardy, grow rapidly, and produce a superior table fowl. 



There is an unfortunate disposition on the part of some breeders 

 to increase the size of these birds, to their detriment as a breed. 

 They will prove more profitable and give more general satisfaction 

 if bred to the standard size of ten pounds for cocks, and eight for 

 hens. 



The breed has originated in America, and is a triumph of the 

 skill of its originators. Mr. I. K. Felch, in his "Amateurs' Manual, >r 

 speaks of their origin as follows : "This breed, in its different fami- 

 lies, is cross-bred in foundation blood, with top-crosses of the Dom- 

 inique to secure the color. To notice some of the modes which 

 have produced these beautiful birds, we cite : 



"1. Black Spanish on White Cochin top-crossed "with Domi- 

 niques. 



"2. Black Spanish on Gray Dorkings top-crossed with Domi- 

 nique. 



"3. Dominique on Buff Cochin hens, reaching the result, through 

 the strong breeding-color quality of the Dominique, by years of 

 breeding. 



"4. White Birmingham on Black Java top-crossed with Domi- 

 nique. 



"5. White Birmingham on the Black Java, and the progeny bred 

 together, the progeny coming white and black, and Dominique. 

 These Dominique-colored birds, bred with the males produced by 

 mating No. 4, produced the best and surest breeders for color of 

 plumage and legs, and were known by many as the Essex strain, be- 

 ing the same in foundation blood as seen in the so-called Mark Pit- 

 man birds, of 1872-'3." 



