THOROUGHBRED, OR BRED TO A PURPOSE. 
best general-purpose fowl. 
They are rapid growers and 
make plump, juicy broilers at 
from eight to twelve weeks old. 
They have no successful rival 
among the pure breeds as a 
market fowl. They are great 
favorites with farmers and 
market men, who breed this 
variety more extensively than 
all other pure breeds combined. 
The popularity of the Plymouth 
Hock as a fanciers’ fowl has 
never been reached by any 
other breed. Its popularity is 
based on its practical utility 
worth, and as a practical-fancy 
fowl, the Barred Plymouth 
Rock has come to stay. They 
are excellent all the year round 
layers, and will lay as many 
eggs as any breed that incu¬ 
bates and rears its young. 
In some of the smaller breeds 
we may get better layers but 
less size. The larger breeds 
give us no more eggs, if as 
many, and are later maturing 
and lack the sprightliness 
and elasticity of movement 
so much admired in the Ply¬ 
mouth Rock. The Barred Plymouth Rock class 
at our American shows is nearly always the 
largest, and the birds usually command a higher 
price than any other American breed, which 
proves their sterling merit. 
“New breeds have come and gone, but the 
Barred Plymouth Rock with its good qualities 
remains invincible. They are practical fowls, 
well suited to the wants and conditions of those 
who desire eggs, meat and feathers combined in 
one breed.” 
The general verdict of Plymouth Rock breed¬ 
ers can be encompassed in the words of a noted 
fancier and judge. ‘‘The Plymouth Rock is, 
beyond all question, the best general-purpose 
fowl of all the breeds before the public. They 
have been before the public many years, have 
borne the competition of other fowls, have been 
subjected to every test that fowls could be sub¬ 
jected to,and have come out of all these trials still 
as much praised and as much liked, both by the 
fancier and general public, as when they were 
first known. Two things are demanded of the 
Barred Plymouth Rocks. 
perfect fowl—a large amount of good meat when 
on the table, and a large laying capacity. It is 
safe to say that no other breed combines these 
two qualities as well as the Plymouth Rock. 
There may be hens that will lay more eggs, 
though we doubt it. Taken weight for weight, 
we have never seen the fowl that could equal the 
Plymouth Rocks, and certainly no fowl sur¬ 
passes them for table use. They are a beautiful 
breed, combining with their large size, beauty of 
carriage to a degree not common with fowls'. 
The only fault that can be found with them is 
the tendency to breed back to show some of the 
characteristics of the breeds from which they 
are derived; but those showing only the best 
points should be kept for breeding purposes. 
For the farm no fowl is equal to the Plymouth 
Rock.” 
The White Plymouth Rocks. 
The White Plymouth Rocks originated as sports 
from the Barred. It is no uncommon thing for 
parti-colored fowls to throw now and then a 
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25 
