RHODE ISLAND REDS AND WHITES 



59 



to produce a utility fowl of red plumage, of the greatest hardihood 

 and the most enduring qualities, and a fowl that would tend to 

 great fecundity and all-round, general qualifications under all 

 conditions and in any climate. 



The Reds are the result of out-crossing, rather than out- 

 breeding, which probably accounts for their great vigor and pro- 

 ductiveness. Out-crossing is the mating of breeds that are en- 



Fig- 35. — Black Javas. 



tirely foreign to each other; for instance, a Brahma mated to a 

 Cornish fowl. Out-breeding is mating fowls of the same breed, 

 but not related by blood. 



In the make-up of the Reds new males were used each year, 

 but always of some red breed, such as Malay Games, Red Pit 

 Games, and Brown Leghorns. The Red is truly a composite 

 fowl. Many breeders were of the opinion that red plumage stood 

 for stamina, and it is certain that this belief has been confirmed 

 in the Rhode Island Red, at least. 



