FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION 277 



common occurrences on the shanks, particularly in females, but 

 this does not indicate impurity. 



There is a decided tendency for the males of this variety to 

 come lighter in color than the females, and for this reason breed- 

 ers are usually obliged to resort to two separate matings, one 

 for the production of males of standard or exhibition color and 

 the other for the production of females of standard or exhibi- 

 tion color. This system of breeding is known as double mat- 

 ing. In mating for males of exhibition color a male of about 

 standard color is used with medium dark females, or those two 

 or three shades darker than females of exhibition color, in which 

 the barring is as distinct and as narrow as possible, showing a 

 clear-cut line between the black and white bars. This mating 

 is known as the cockerel mating, because it produces a greater 

 percentage of exhibition or standard-colored males, while the 

 females produced are too dark in color for exhibition, but are 

 suitable for continuing this line of breeding. In mating for 

 females of exhibition color, females of about standard color 

 are used with a medium light male or one that is two or three 

 shades lighter than males of exhibition color, but which shows 

 distinct barring and as strong barring in the undercolor as can 

 be obtained. This mating is known as the pullet mating, be- 

 cause it produces a greater percentage of females of exhibition 

 color, while the males produced are too light for exhibition, but 

 may be used to continue this line of breeding. 



The White Plymouth Rock is the second most popular 

 variety of this breed. All the characteristics of the White Ply- 

 mouth Rock are supposed to be identical with those of the 

 Barred Plymouth Rock except color. As a matter of fact the 

 White Plymouth Rock tends to run somewhat larger in size, 

 and the type is a little more uniform and a little better than that 

 of the Barred Plymouth Rock. In color the White Plymouth 

 Rock should be a pure white throughout, free from black ticking 

 and from any brassiness or creaminess. 



The Buff Plymouth Rock is distinguished from the other 

 Rocks by the color alone, which should be an even shade of 

 golden buff throughout. Shafting, or the presence of feathers 

 having a shaft of different color from the rest of the feather, 

 and mealiness, or the presence of feathers sprinkled with lighter 



