PLYMOUTH ROCKS 



55 



breed about 1849, but not until twenty years later was the real 

 Plymouth Rock established. 



The Barred variety was the original Plymouth Rock, and to it 

 rightfully belongs the title of the pioneer of American fancy 

 poultry. See Fig. 30. There were two other breeds of fowls pro- 

 duced before the Barred Rock, namely, the Dominique and the 



Fig. 31. — Columbian Plymouth Rocks. 



Java, but at that time they were not bred to anything like a 

 fixed standard, as were the Rocks. 



The weights of the Rocks show a betwixt-and-between fowl, 

 cocks 9>^ pounds, cockerels 8 pounds, hens 7>^ pounds, and 

 pullets 6 pounds. Neither too small for meat purposes, nor too 

 large for egg production, hence the name "dual-purpose." For 

 the farmer or market poulterer these fowls are favorites, being of 

 medium-size, well proportioned, with a deep, full, round breast. 

 They are hardy, mature in about eight months, and are excellent 



