The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-03-28
Plymouth Rocks.
farm. Field and FireSide.1

The Plymouth Rock is our pet and
we can no better state our appreciation
of it than to use the words of noted
bre eder of the breed. He says:
The barred Plymouth Rock has
been termed Americas Idol. There
is no variety-the product Of Aneri-
can skill in breeding-that we can put
on the markets of the world with so
much pride, and none other is received
from our shores by foreign fanciers
with so much favor. The strongest
proof of the superiority of this breed is
that it has successfully stood the booms
of score of new varieties-has met
and vanquished each one and still lives
Other breeds have their booms, but
the Plymouth Rock keeps on its steady
course, winning greater and greater
popularity with each succeeding year.
1t has never had boom in its history.
Its favor has been won by merit, and
by merit it retains what it has won. 1t
is the farmers delight, the poulterer's
''standby,'' and the villagers best
friend, as it can be depended on to
yield generous supply of eggs and sa-
vary flesh. For meat, size, laying
qualities, vigor, quick growing and at
Effectiveness combined there is no
breed that will not suffer by COMPARE
son. This difficult union Of qualities
makes the barred Plymouth Rock a
continual favorite. For the market
they are one Of the best, being large.
with plump bodies and full breast, with
clean yellow legs and skin. For these
reasons and many others they always
command a high price. Fer table
fowls they have but few equals, being
sweet, juicy, fne-grained, tender and
delicate. AS layers they are consid-
cred above the average. Many breeds
stop laying during the winter but the
steady going Plymouth Rocks bid def
ance to the season, provided their
house be a warm one and they are
ptentifully supplied with food converti-
BILE into eggs. They always mature
early and are splendid foragers, fast
growers and compactly built. Their
heavy body and short wing feathers
prevent them from flying over a COM
mon fence. The hens are the most
patient of brooders and the best of
mothers, and SO determined are they
to bring up family that they often
adopt stray chicken. These fowls
are hardy and healthy, thriving we'll in
any weather. In looks the Plymouth
Rocks do not take the lead, but just
here the adage applies, Handsome is
that handsome does.' Their plain,
Quaker-like attire is suitable every
day work dress, and even those farmers
| who have an Unborn disliks to ''fancy
chickens cannot but admit that the
pure-bred Plymouth Rocks are far
ahead of any cross for farm stock. III
color they are blush gray, each
feather distinctly pencilled across with
ba1s Of a darker color, and the more
distinct the bar the better and more
valuable the fowl. The plumagc Of
the hens is much darker than that Of
the cocks. They have straight, rather
small size, single combs with five OF
six serrations, bright yellow beaks, rec
ear lobes, and bright red wattles Of
! medium size. The standard weight O.
the cock is nine and one-half pounds
| cockerel eight, hen seven and one half
| pullet six and one half.
The pea comb barred Plymouth
Rock is like the single comb except i
| has pea-comb.
WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
Except in plumage, the white Ply
mouth Rock is the counterpart Of the
barred variety, from which it is sport
AS a general purpose fowl, they ranl
with the best. They have no need t.
be ashamed of their record as egg
producers, nor has their owner. They
lay especially we'll in winter. Thei
eggs are large, of good color, and ex
cellent quality. AS dressed poultry
they are unsurpassed. The absence o