Barred Plymouth Rocks— Characteristics. 9 



they are undoubtedly made up of two or three breeds, yet they now 

 breed very true, and for all practical purposes are a distinct breed. 

 Jn America they are very great favorites, and hold, perhaps, the first 

 position on that continent. In this country they have become very 

 popular indeed, as is shown by the- very large numbers exhibited 

 during the past season, and as they are very good layers, first rate 

 table birds, both large in size, and with well flavored flesh, very 

 hardy, easy to keep and rear and not very heavy eaters, bearing con- 

 finement well, we are not surprised at their popularity, and should 

 be surprised if they did not greatly increase." 



Poultry, another English journal of great weighty says of them : 

 " The tabulated list of entries at the Palace, Dairy and Birmingham 

 shows, show that the Plymouth Rock plays a good part in ' paying 

 the piper." The committee of Palace show reports a profit in en- 

 trance fees on Plymouth Rocks alone to the extent of forty-six 

 pounds, sixteen shillings over and above the amount of money and 

 cups offered in prizes ' " 



In glancing over the reports of the various shows throughout 

 the country, we find the Plymouth Rock, in most instances, the 

 strongest classes. In turning to the Dairy show, we find their com- 

 mittee offered fourteen pounds prize money in two years, while their 

 profits on entrance fees amount to thirty-six pounds, twelve shillings 

 and sixpence, which is considerably more than any other classes 

 except Brahmas, which amount to forty-six pounds, twelve shillings 

 and sixpence. At Birmingham, year 1886, there were one hundred 

 and eight Plymouth Rock entries, and the profit on entrance fees is 

 twenty-nine pounds, twelve shillings. 



Now, if the officials of those shows would devote a little more 

 of the Plymouth Rock entry fees to prizes in their respective classes, 

 and not go to pay for those classes that cannot pay for themselves, 

 and if the Plymouth Rocks received the same encouragement in 

 prize money as other breeds, they would no longer play second fiddle 

 but come out at the top of the pole. 



General Appreciation. — The English poultry raiser kept 

 a careful record of the number of eggs laid by his hens from Febru- 

 ary ist to August ist, year 1887, with the following average results 

 per hen for each breed named below : Minorcas, 143 ; Andalusians, 

 141 ; Langshans, 139 ; Brown Leghorns, 139 ; Plymouth Rocks, 137; 

 Redcaps, 136 ; Black Hamburgs, 135 ; White Leghorns, 131 ; Hou- 

 dans, 123. Of course the months taken are those in which the most 

 eggs are laid, and the total for the whole year could not be double 



