PRICE FIVE CENTS. 
*2.00 PER YEAR. 
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 24, 1887 
YOL. XLVL NO. 1978 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year, 1887, by the Rural Nkw-Yorker, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
THE PEA-COMBED PLYMOUTH ROCK. 
H. S. BABCOCK. 
The Pen-combed Plymouth Rock appeared 
as a "sport” some 10 or 12 years ago in a flock 
of single-combed Plymouth Rocks, and the 
‘•sports” thus appearing were saved, and 
bred from, until the characteristics of the 
breed became established. Cases of such 
“sporting” are by no means rare, but occur 
from time to time in flocks of Plymouth 
Rocks. I have had the testimony of a large 
number of persons in whose flocks Plymouth 
Rock chickens with pea-combs have appeared. 
Because the fowl had a pea-comb, and be¬ 
cause that popular breed, the Brahma, has a 
similar comb, many have supposed that the 
Pea-combed Plymouth Rock was pro¬ 
duced by a reeeut cross with the Brah¬ 
ma. Wlthout taking the trouble to in¬ 
vestigate the subject, some breeders 
have rashly made such assertions; but 
the evidence which 1 have carefully 
collected from many sources has dis¬ 
proved this assertion, and no reasona¬ 
ble person, who has taken the trouble 
to examine this evidence, any longer 
believes in the unfounded theory of a 
recent Brahma cross. 
To avoid close in-breediDg in the 
early days of the breed, and thus pre¬ 
vent the nndermiuiug of the constitu¬ 
tion of this excellent and promising 
new variety, out-breeding with siugle- 
combed Plymouth Rocks has been re¬ 
sorted t*»; but beyond an occasional 
infusion of pure Plymouth Rock blood 
no crossing lias been attempted. At 
present even such out-breeding is un¬ 
necessary, for t he number of the fowls 
has been so increased, anti the variety 
has been so widely dispersed that it is 
not difficult to obtain fowls for mating 
that are but very distantly related. 
The fowl is, therefore, as its name in¬ 
dicates a thoroughbred Plymouth Rock 
with a pea comb. With two excep¬ 
tions, its characteristics are the same 
as those of the single-combed variety. 
Like the latter, it is a square-built, 
heavy-bodied, yellow-legged, Domi¬ 
nique-colored fowl, of good size, quiet 
disposition, ami hardy constitution. 
But, uulike the single-combed variety, 
it possesses a low, triple comb, ex¬ 
tremely small in the pullets. Being so 
very small, it is practically frost-proof, 
and though Juek Frost cun nip closely 
hecanuot nip closely enough to injure 
the comb of a Pea combed Plymouth 
Rock pullet Frost-bitten combs are a 
great hindrance to laying in cold 
weather; but no frost-bitten combs will 
be found in a flock of this variety. Its 
comb, therefore, like that of the Brah¬ 
ma, fits it for a good winter-laying 
breed. It differs from the single- 
combed variety, also, in beiug a more 
prolific layer. 1 make this statement 
after a careful comparison of the 
records kept by myself and by others. 
1 have no wish to disparage any varie¬ 
ty of fowls, but 1 am compelled to say 
that, so far as I cun judge from my 
own experience uud that of others, the 
Pea-combed Plymouth Rock as a layer 
has few equals aud no superiors. Just 
why this difference exists l>etween two 
varities of the same blood I do uot 
know. Like a thousand other things 
the reason is obscure although the fact 
is patent. It would be pleasiug to 
kuow the reason, but for practical purposes 
it is sufficient to know the fact. 
Every variety, before it can be acknowl¬ 
edged as a breed, ought to bo able to repro¬ 
duce its characteristics with fidelity It is not 
expected that every chicken will be like its 
parents, for such expectation would be con¬ 
trary to the experience of breeders. Even 
breeds like the Hamburg, which has an au¬ 
thentic history for more than 200 years, pro¬ 
duce occasionally a chicken with a single in¬ 
stead of a rose comb. But the majority of the 
chickens ought to be like their parents. Ap¬ 
plying this test to the Pea-combed Plymouth 
Rock, I find that it is entitled to be considered 
a breed. It breeds with great fidelity. I have 
raised some years a hundred chickens with not 
a single comb among them Not more than 
10 or 12 per cent have ever come, in my exper¬ 
ience with the breed, with other than pea- 
combs. One season I mated a pea-combed cock¬ 
erel to single-combed hens, and over 75 per 
cent of the chickens had pea-combs. ♦ Such a 
test proves that this characteristic is firmly 
established, and entitles the variety to be re¬ 
garded as a breed. 
Taken all in all, the Pea-combed Plymouth 
Rock is a thoroughly useful, practical and 
profitable fowl. It possesses a union of pro¬ 
lificacy and hardiness, quiet disposition and 
extra table qualities, which makes it, if not 
the best, at least one of the best “all-around” 
fowls that has ever been produced. It is espe¬ 
cially adapted to the needs of the farmer and 
the villager, who wish a fowl that lays well 
and when dressed looks, eats and sells well. 
At Fig. 484 is shown a good specimen of the 
breed, Pilgrim VI., which was sired by Pil¬ 
grim III, Pilgrim VI. is a medium-colored 
fowl, of about the average weight of the 
breed, aud is squarely built, possesses a fine 
comb, and has proved a successful stock bird 
the past season. 
POINTS FOR POULTRYMEN. 
Not long since the Rural sent the follow¬ 
ing questions to some of our best known poul¬ 
try men: 
1. How do you provide lime for your 
poultry? 
2. What green food do you feed in winter? 
3. How do you prepare nests for sitting 
hens? 
4. How do you get rid of vermin? 
5. What do you consider the safest way to 
pack eggs for shipping? 
fi. Would you consider it fairer to sell eggs 
by weight than by the dozen? 
These are questions that all who keep poul¬ 
try are interested in, and there will be much 
to learn in the answers given below. 
FROM PHILANDER WILLIAMS. 
1. I .keep ground oyster shells constantly be¬ 
fore my poultry. 
2. I chop rowen hay with a hay cutter, 
then steam it by placing it in a but¬ 
ter tub. Pour on hot water, put a 
cover on, let it steam awhile and then 
feed it once every day. 1 also feed 
mangels and beets. 
3. I make boxes large enough to 
give the ben plenty of room, -with a 
lid on hinges to shut the hen in. I 
put some loam in the bottom of the 
box, then hay aud then some poor 
eggs and put on the hen. If she goes 
on after she has been let or taken off, 
I then put the eggs under her. I let 
down the lid once a day and after a 
few days she will come off aud go on 
herself. 
Always have feed and water and a 
place to dust sitting hens handy. If 
one has a barn cellar or room large 
enough, 20 or 30 of the* e boxes can 
be placed in it and half a dozen hens 
can be let off at a time. 
4. There are never any vermin on 
my poultry unless I buy sitting hens, 
and then before I set each I fill her 
feathers full of Dalmatian insect 
powder, and that will rid her of ver¬ 
min. It would be well to do this also 
when she is taken off with the chick¬ 
ens. I prevent the pests from getting 
into my houses by making the roosts 
rest on standards, not being fastened 
or touching the sides of the house. 
Then about plauting time or when 
warm weather comes on, I have the 
roosts turned over often and examin¬ 
ed for vermin. If any are found I 
apply carbolic acid or anything 
strong enough to kill them If this 
care is taken no one need ever be 
troubled with vermin. 
5. In packing eggs for shipping, 
wrap each in paper, twisting the ends; 
then use a box or basket—whichever 
is most convenient. Pack in cork 
dust, setting each egg on the little end. 
I never allow the eggs to touch each 
other and when the box or basket is 
full the packing is made quite firm 
or it will settle with coustaut jarring. 
If a box is used, a good strong 
leather handle should be screwed on 
each end. Expressmen like boxes 
better than baskets, aud I ahvays use 
boxes when 1 ship over long dis¬ 
tances, say to California. 
6. Yes, 1 consider it fairer to sell 
eggs by weight, aud I believe the size 
of eggs would be increased if this were 
the custom or law. If yellow or dark- 
colored eggs are desired—as they 
bring the highest price in some loca¬ 
tions —the Asiatics would be the 
best breeds to beep. If-white egg 
are v anted, keep Leghorns. 
Pea-Combed Plymouth Hock, Pilgrim VI, Fig.-48-4. 
