R. I. REDS AS UTILITY FOWLS 



75 



yellow legs and skin one bit as long as they get a bird that 

 has plenty of juicy meat on its body, and there is no doubt 

 but the Reds are all that is claimed for them in that 

 respect. Birds that I have sold for eating have been praised 

 by every one who has tried them and I feel sure that there 

 is a great future for them in the British Isles and that they 

 will boom themselves here as they have in your country. 



I have this season exported eggs to France and Germany 

 and my only regret is that I had no more to sell. I have a 

 splendid lot of chickens and one or two pullets, hatched on 

 January 25th, have actually commenced laying, although 

 i)ot quite four months old. 



We have had a cold and a late spring but we have lost 

 very few chicks although they have been exposed to cold 

 easterly winds for the past six or seven weeks. 



Up to the present time we have had no separate classes 

 for Reds in our poultry shows, but there is no doubt but dur- 

 ing the coming season we shall have opportunity of exhibit- 

 ing at several t>laces, in^'faot, I hope to guarantee prizes my- 

 self at one or two, and judging from the demand for eggs 

 there will be plenty of exhibitors. Last year one of our 

 large breeders sent some birds to Crystal Palace show which 

 were much admired and there is no doubt but what it was a 

 fine advertisement for the Reds. 



My experience has been that no matter what one pays 

 it is a difficult matter to import really first-class birds froin 

 the United States. I joined the American club so that I 

 might get to know some of the best breeders and have since 

 recommended several new members. We hope to have,;a 

 club of our own very soon — in fact I have already about 

 thirty enthusiasts who have promised to join. 



I hope to report to you later on how we get on at the 

 shows. I expect there will be rather a mixed lot of Reds 

 at first as so few people know anything about them.. 

 Very truly yours, 



W. ROGEBSMITH. 



[Note: It is quite evident from the above that the 

 Reds have a brilliant future before them in Europe. We 

 hope to see our English friends adopt the same Standard we 

 have for the Reds and thus take a step toward a universal 

 Standard. We have since received another letter from Mr. 

 Rogersmith stating that there were several fine exhibits of 

 Reds at several shows during the season of 1909-10. We 

 hope that our American breeders will take note of what Mr. 

 Rogersmith says in regard to exporting stock and send value 

 received and then a little extra. It ought not to be difficult 

 to give full value even if the birds are going across the water. 

 D. B. H.] 



