liAkkJiU I'LYMOUTLl ROCKS 



129 



the host of care to the si-o\ving chickens and provide adequate range 

 for them. Failure comes from poor hreediu.t; stock and careless han- 

 dling. 



The young breeder will do well to in(|uire into the merits of every 

 family of the breed that is today in the ascendancy. Study the claims 

 of each breeder, for you cannot know in advance where you will fuid 

 just what you want or what will do you the most good in the breed- 

 ing yard. Let your letters travel the length and breadth of the land 

 asking for quotations on birds of good substance and good breeding, 

 for you may well aspire to bring together in your own yards, birds 

 that possess breeding possibilities which shall culminate in a quality 

 of Plymouth Rock chickens that for beauty of plumage, symmetry 



W. D, Holterman and His Son and Two Exhibition Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets. 



of form and genuine usefulness will surpass the most lauded produc- 

 tions of the past. 



No matter what progress has been made, the question of breeding 

 ever remains worthy of a man's deepest study and most skillful eiTorts. 



W. D. Holterman tells the secret of the true breeder's interest 

 and ambition in these words: 



Before my eyes I see a vision which I will try to help make come true: I picture 

 to myself males and females so intensely sharp and contrasting in color, so sharp- 

 white and blue-black in color of their bars, that they will fairly sparilde and scintillate 

 as they move about. This is further enhanced and liecomes much more beautiful 

 and striking on account of their sharply marked lines or "rings" of alternate blue- 



