246 



THE AMERICAN BREEDS OF POULTRY 



edges of the flights, may be mated to a standard winged male, or 

 vice versa. When standard wings are bred together there is a danger 

 of the black spilling over into the wing-bows and an excess of slate 

 color showing in the undercolor of the back. 



A bird showing smut may be introduced into each line or family 

 about every third generation, or whenever the undercolor begins to 

 run a little light. Always choose a smutty bird bred from sound red 

 undercolored parents. Birds bred from a mating in which smut was 

 used should be bred to clean color. 



Slate can never be entirely eliminated, for the tails of Rhode Island 

 Reds are black, and there is that black-red combination which the 

 breeder must segregate to their respective locations and then hold 

 in place. 



There is practically no difference between the Single Comb Red 

 and the Rose Comb Red except in comb. The Rose Comb needs a 

 little more attention paid to selection for comb than the Single Comb, 

 for a good rose comb is a beautiful character, while a big, loose rose 

 comb with a hole in the center is unsightly. 



If the breeder will watch the hackles on his females, the breasts 

 on his males, the undercolor and the amount of black in wing flights, 

 he will have the necessary checks on the color of this variety, and by 

 holding these checks he will be able to blow the flame of his red 

 surface color until it is a bright, rich "burn your fingers" red. 



R«9e Comb Rhode Island Red Qonk, 



