SUCCESS WITH POULTRY 



11 



away -with the under barring that they pay little attention 

 to the beauty of the surface color. They begin to score 

 from the skin and out more severely for lack of under-color 

 than for an inferior surface. The beauty «f a fowl is what 

 we see, and while I am a believer in distinct, even-barring 

 under the surface^ I do not want th« bars so strong and 

 heavy underneath that they destroy the beautiful blue on 

 the surface, and it is a fact that most of the specimens tHkt 

 are very strong in under-color have a muddy black bar on 

 the surface. It is also a fact that the very finest surface 

 colored birds have not the strongest under-qolor. The two 

 qualities do jiot breed together, naturally, or, in other words, 

 those males that are most attractive in the breeding yard 

 and exhibition pen may not have the same strength in the 

 under-barring as other specimens that are less attractive. 



Now, breeders, which will you have? What I want, 

 and what any real fancier wants, ia perfection in surface 

 color and all the under-barring that nature will supply with 

 it, and not what some judges I know require, namely, perf 58- 

 tion in under-barring and as good surface as we can ,get 

 with it. 



UKTE FOR MALE BBEBDriTO. 



To produce fine males select the very best exhibition 

 male to head the pen. He must be a bird of standard 

 weight, or a little over, with broad, full breast; low, evenly 

 serrated comb; solid red lobes,, bay eyes; broad, well curved 

 back; nicely curved tail, carried rather low; and strong, 

 rich yfellow legs set well apart. In color he should be a 

 rich, dark blu«, even all over, and as closely barred as pos- 

 sible to retain distinctness, with wings and tail distinctly 

 barred throughout. Get all the under-color possible with 

 such a surface, but do not let the surface suffer for the sake 

 of heavy under-.color. 



Mate with this male eight or ten females of the same 

 line of blood, or, in other words', females whose sire and 

 grand-sire were high-scoring exhibition males of the type 

 and color 1 have described. Select females of standard sii;e, 

 with small, evenly serrated combs, bay eyes, blockly shape, 

 broad backs, low, well-barred tails, and strong, yellow legs. 

 In color these females should be several shades darker than 

 exhibition color, the bars to be narrow, distinct and close 

 together in all sections, with the under-color strong and 

 distinct to the skin. "With these strong colored females you 

 can get all the under-color in the male product that it ia 

 possible to have wih a brilliant, high colored surface. 



From such a mating as I have described, if bred in line, 

 I can produce 95 per cent first-class breeding males with 25 

 per cent of sufficient merit for exhibition at the best shows. 

 LINE FOiR FEMALE BREEDING. 



In mating to produce high-class exhibition pullets select 

 females of the best exhibition color, evenly and distinctly 

 barred down to skin. Be particular that the neck is evenly 

 and closely barred and not lighter in color than the back 

 and body. Have the main tail feathers and tail coverts well 

 barred across th« feather. Females are liable to fail in these 

 Sections unless care is exercised in the selection of the 

 breeders. Have them standard weight or a little over, with 

 broad, full breasts, broad backs, gently inclining to the taU, 

 which should not be carried too high. I prefer a slight 

 cushion which' gives the female a round, blockly appearance. 

 The eomb should be small and evently serrated, eyes bay, 

 and legs a rich yellow. Such a bird should be fit to show 

 in any company. If these females have been bred in line 

 for several generations the offspring will be more even in 

 iorm and color. 



With these females place a male of medium light color 



and of even shade from head to tail. He should be of stand- 

 ard weight, have broad, deep, full breast; body not too 

 short; back well" curved to tail, which should be carried 

 rather low. This male should have been bred in line from 

 high-class exhibition females for several generations, so that 

 his blood may have the same character as that of the fe- 

 males with which he is mated. 



From such a mating can be produced 95 per cent of first- 

 class breeding females and 20 to 30 per cent of high scoring 

 show specimens. The males from this mating will be very 

 nearly tne color of the sire and are useful as breeding birds 

 in mating for exhibition females. Save only those that are 

 even in color for breeding purposes. 



CARE OF THE BREEDING PEN. v 



While it is necessary to have the best blood and quality 

 in the breeding pen to secure good results, there are many 

 other conditions that are equally as important in the pro- 

 duction of the winning show bird. The breeding fowls 

 should have a large grass range during the breeding season, 

 so that they may have perfect health and vigor and that the 

 eggs laid will contain strong -germs produced from nature 's 

 food. The exercise, insects and green food which nature 

 supplies nave much to do with the vigor and development 

 of the coming chicks. Give them nature from the begin- 

 ning until they are ready for the show room and breeding 

 pen. Hatch and raise them and give the chicks the 

 opportunity to roam for insects as soon as they have . 

 the strength and desire to do so. Give them an abundance 

 of fresh air and room in their roosting quarters. Deprive 

 them of nothing that will add to their thrift and comfort, 

 and when the birds get into strong competition in the show 

 room you will be well paid for your extra care. They will 

 have the size, the color, the form, the style and vigor, all of 

 which should be combined in the winning show bird. 



WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 



An Article Descriptive of the White Plymouth Bocks, a' 



Variety That Many Claim Is "The Coming General 



Purpose Fowl"— It Certainly Has No Superior. 



BY KEY. JOHN HUGHES. 



'The White Plymouth Rock, said to be a descendant from 



sports of the Barred Plymouth Rock, must be of the same 



form and weight, pure white in plumage, and ought to be, 



and in my opinion is, possessed of all the excellencies of his 



*justly popular ancestor. 



The difference in standard requirements' is in the color 

 of plumage only. The Whites have the same yellow skin, 

 beak and legs; the same bay eye and blockly build. They 

 dress more neatly, showing no black pin-feathers when ready ► 

 for the pot. Their meat, is just as desirable for the table. 

 They lay just as many eggs, mature as early, and breed to 

 standard requirements more easily. There is no need of two 

 matings, one for cockerels and one for pullets, with the in- 

 evitable lot of culls fit for the market only; no racking of 

 brains with a lifetime 's experience to attain ' ' the blue tinge 

 in color, which should always be kept in mind," with the 

 feathers regularly barred with ' ' straight, distinct lines, run- 

 ning well to the skin," that the "ringlets" or "zebra 

 stripes" may be clearly defined throughout the whole body." 

 "The mating of Barred Plymouth Rocks to produce exhibi- 

 tion specimens is a study indeed,'.' and after all the thought 

 and care bestowed on the subject the long sought for is 

 not yet attained, for one of our judges says: "There ia 



