LEADING STANDARD BREEDS 



Articles on the Best and Most Popular Varieties of Poultry in Existence, by Expert Breeders — 



These Articles Not Only Set Forth the Characteristic of Each, but also Give 



Valuable Inside Information on Mating for Best Results — Do 



Not "Trust to Luck"— Follow Good Advice 



AETIGLBS under this chapter are alone worth one 

 . hundred dollars of any person 's money who is 

 really interested in poultry for pleasure or profit, 

 or both. We say this mainly to emphasize the high 

 character of these special articles. , After a person has about 

 made up his mind to engage in the poultry business, the 

 question naturally arises, ' ' With what breed or variety shall 

 ! begin?" What better answer could we furbish than the 

 following descriptive, illustrated articles by noted breeders 

 each of whom makes a specialty of the variety he writes 

 aoout? These breeders are noted, not alone for the fine 

 fowls they produce, but also for their integrity as bus- 

 iness men. 



Permit us a few words of caution to the beginner: It 

 is really better for you to start out with one variety, rather 

 than with two or more. Learn thoroughly the one variety 

 before you take up another. If your location is good, and 

 you have the capital and enterprise, we see no real objection 

 to th« adoption of other varieties or breeds, but be sure 

 that you are an expert with each variety you carry before 

 taking up a new one. 



Unlike Alexander the "Great, you will not sit down- and 

 weep for more worlds to conquer — not if you go into the 

 poultry business with a deterniination to surpass all others. 

 You will find plenty of big, brainy, whole-souled men and 

 women engaged in poultry culture.- To succeed to a high 

 degree in such company is no boy's job. One of the first 

 things you ■ will be impressed and delighted with, is the 

 strong, helpful fraternal spirit existing among pouKrymen. 



You wiU find in the business many a good man and 

 woman who will treat you more than fairly, and who will 

 be to you a source of much encouragement. 



BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS 



A Clean-cut and Comprehensive Desciiptive Article on 

 .America's Best Production in Poultry. 



The Barred Plymouth Rock has been termed America's 

 idol. There is no other variety, the product of American 

 skill in. breeding, that we can put on the markets of the 

 world with so much pride, and none other is received from 

 our shores by foreign fanciers with so much favor. They 

 need no booming. They stand acknowledged without an 

 equal as the best general-purpose fowl bred. They thrive 

 anywhere, and are rapid growers, and make plump, juicy 

 broilers at eight to twelve weeks old. As a market fowl 

 they have no successful rivals among the pure breeds. They 

 are a great favorite with farmers and market poultrymen, 

 ■who breed this variety more extensiviely than .all other pure 



breeds combined. As a fancier's fowl, the Plymouth Bock 

 has reached a popularity in this country never before known. 

 Utility and actual worth are the basis of this popularity-, 

 and maKie the Barred Plymouth Bock the bird of destiny, 

 a breed come to stay. 



There are many valuable breeds of poultry among our 

 standard varieties. Some excel in. beauty of plumage and 

 graceful forms; others in massive size and majestic carriage, 

 while still other bfeeds court popular favor by their records 

 as egg producers. Nearly all breeds combine some of the 

 good qualities in some degree. Bantams are handsome and 

 good layers of eggs proportionate to the size of the breed. 

 The smaller a bantam' can be bred the better. They have • 

 hosts of admirers, and as pets and a breed upon which to 

 exercise a true fancier's skill, they are valuable. 



The ornamental breeds are small in size, and fanciers 

 of such do not find their ideal fowls in a large variety — a 

 Cochin, Langshan or Brahma — while fanciers of these mas- 

 sive birds can not see their ideal in a small fowl, be it 

 gorgeous in feathers and as graceful in movement as a bil- 

 lowy cloud. We are speaking of fanciers in general. There 

 doubtless are some who really love several breeds, both 

 great and small, handsome and plain; but the majority find 

 their hearts' idol in some particular variety although they 

 may breed several varieties. 



• For a person who wants a business fowl, one that never 

 deserts its post nor shirks a duty, I believe the BSrred 

 Plymouth Bock fills the bill nearer than any other breed. 

 They are always ready for business, rain or shine. They 

 are medium in size, and if decently fed are always in good, 

 meaty condition to kill after eight weeks old. Their earry 

 maturity adapts them especially for broiler use. 



The Plyjnouth Rocks are excellent "all the year around" 

 layers, and will lay as many eggs as any breed that incu- 

 bates and rears its young. They are the farmers' favorite. 

 In the smaller breeds we may get better layers, but lose 

 size. The larger birds give us no more, if as many eggs 

 as the Plymouth? Bocks, .are later maturing and "lack the 

 sprightliness and elasticity of movement so admired in a 

 medium large fowl. 



The Barred Plymouth Bock is nearly always the largest 

 class at our American shows, and strictly Choice specimens 

 command a higher price than any other American breed, 

 which prove their' sterling merits. New breeds come and 

 go, but the great qualities of the Barred Plymouth Rock 

 become more and more indelible. As a practical fowl, suited 

 to the wants and conditions of those who desire eggs, meat 

 and feathers combined in one breed, they acknowledge no 

 competition. 

 MATING BABEED PLYMOUTH BOOKS A S.TDDY. 

 The mating of Barred Plymouth Bocks to produce ex- 

 ihibition specimens is a study indeed. Opinions are, that as 



