298 



Nature-Study Agriculture 



Wyan- 

 dottes; 

 varieties 



u. s. D. A. 



FIG. 242. A standard-bred flock of single-comb White Leghorns. It costs 

 no more to feed and care for good stock than for scrub stock, and the returns 

 are much better. 



exhibited at a fair held at Worcester, Massachusetts, 

 in 1869, and they at once became popular. 



The popularity of Plymouth Rocks led experimenters 

 to try to produce other improved breeds. The first 

 notable result was the Wyandotte breed, which was 

 originated in the state of New York by crossing several 

 different breeds. The object of the breeders was to 

 get a fowl that would mature earlier than the Plymouth 

 Rock and be a better layer. The Silver-laced Wyan- 

 dottes, the first variety produced, have three times 

 secured the first prize at international egg-producing 

 contests. There are now at least eight varieties of 

 the Wyandottes, each distinguished according to color. 

 In form and size they much resemble Plymouth 

 Rocks, although they are somewhat smaller. They 

 have " rose " combs (thick and low) instead of 



