EVOLUTION OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY 17 



The Barred Plymouth Rock (which, until the white variety 

 appeared, was called simply the Plymouth Rock) was the first 

 thoroughbred fowl presenting the combination of characteristics 

 more satisfactory to the farmer than what he secured from either 

 the native stock or the indiscriminate mixture of breeds which 

 popular authorities favored. The result was that, in all parts of the 

 country, people who before had held aloof from "fancy" breeds 

 began to breed the Plymouth Rock. The appearance of a stable 

 type suiting the general idea gave a tremendous impetus to 

 poultry culture. 



After the Plymouth Rock came other varieties and breeds differ- 

 ing from it in color of plumage or in shape of comb, or varying 

 somewhat from its size, shape, and weight, but still of the general 

 type of fowl best adapted to the production of both eggs and meat 

 and to the conditions under which most poultry is kept for profit. 

 The Asiatic type continued to be bred, especially where large fowls 

 for the table were wanted ; and the Leghorn, the most serviceable 

 European type, was improved in this country and became an 

 important factor in the extension of interest in improved stock, 

 especially where eggs were the most important product. 



Artificial incubation. The hatching of eggs by artificial means 

 has been practiced in Egypt and China from very early times. 

 This fact and something of the methods used by these peoples 

 have long been known, but the methods used were not adapted 

 either to the conditions of the industry in Europe and America or 

 to the habits and temperament of occidental races. Incubators of 

 the types found practicable for general use were first introduced 

 about 1875. The machines of that period have never been sur- 

 passed for eflficient work when skillfully handled, but their manage- 

 ment was too difficult for the average operator. 



Toward 1890 more perfectly regulated machines appeared, and 

 the incubator began to come into general use and to have a pro- 

 nounced effect on the development of the industry. In the next 

 ten years more marked improvements in the construction of incu- 

 bators easy of operation were made. These improvements and the 

 development of more practicable methods of artificial brooding 

 made possible the production of poultry on a much larger scale 

 than had ever been attempted before. Though that was the feature 



