Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-03-13
PLYMOUTH
ROCKS ARE
FINE BREED

The Oregon Oriano has the follow
ing about Plymouth Rock chickens. II
il written by George ie Howard, gee
retary Of the National Poultry and
Pigeon association:
'The Plymouth Rock Is the most .
popular Of all breeds OF poultry as a
general purpose fowl The barred |
variety is the best known, and its his |
tory dates back over a quarter Of
century. Various breeds we're used IN
its making, the belief being general
that II originally came from a cross
between the American Dominique and
the Black Java It has also been
shown that the Light Brahma, Dark
Brahma and Pit Game have been used
In lie making.
"The Barred Plymouth Rock Is Of
a grayish white color. each feather
regularly crossed by narrow parallel
bars OF dark blue black running In
distinct lines throughout the entire
length Of the feather and showing on
the down, or undercolor, OF the feath-
ers. The barring Is somewhat smaller
on the hackIe and saddle feathers than
on other portions Of the body. A me-
dlum-sized bird with a broad, full
breast. a rather long and broad body
medium-sl wings that fold grace
fully; the wing fronts being well COW
cred BY the breast feathers and the
wing points by the saddle feathers;
a moderately large head, onamented
with an upright bright red comb and
wattles: a large bright red or bay
eye. and yellow beak, shankB and toes
places the picture before us.
"For the farmer or market poultry
man, these fowls are. fayorites, being
Of medium size, well proportloned,
with deep full breast, making most
admirable bird for market purposes.
They are hardy. mature early, and
make excellent broilers when from
eight 10 twelve weeks old. They are
good layers the year round. and In
winter lay exceptionally we'll. Their
eggs are brown In color and average
eight TO a pound They are good set
ters and excellent mothers.
THE Barred Plymouth Rock. besides
being a practical fowl. Is also one OF
the most sought after by fanciers. No
class Is better filled at the average
poultry show Of the country. The
graceful figure, upright carriage, and
active nature endear II TO all as a
fancler's fowl. II requires much skill
TO breed for color. and two matings
are generally used An established
rule for mating for cockerels Is to
use n standard-color male with me-
dIum-dark females, and for pulletB TO
use medium-light male and standard
color females. The double mating is
resorted 10 by many, yet rare speci-
mems have been produced from single
matingB.
"The characteristic OF this are no
tlceable IL tho other varieties OF Ply
mouth Rocks. excepting that Of color.
The size, shape, general outlines, and
qualities are the same In the other
varieties as In the barred. The White
Plymouth Rock Is pure white In plum
age throughout and the buff variety
is clear golden buff, uniform In
shade. The buff should extend to the
undercolor as much as poBsIble--ths
deeper the better
"The standard weight OF cocks Ia
9h pounds; hons, ~ pounds; cock
erels, pounds pullets, ~ pounds
"The WyandOtte Ia another OF the
general purpose fowls and is rated
next TO the Plymouth Rock. From the
first II sprang into popular favor and
has continued no 10 the present time
II came originally from the dark Brah.
ma. -spangled Hamburg, and
the Breda "a French fowO Not a few
authorities say that Wyandottes have
Cochin blood IN them. from the facl
that their ancestors produced single
combs and fealhered shanks.
"For general purposes the Wyan
dottes have proved success, being o
medium size, weighing on an average
pound less than the Plymouth Rock
being hardy OF constitution, and pro
life layers. They are easily cared 10
and bear confinement we'll For tabl
purposes they are OF superior worth
their flesh Ia sweet Juicy and tender
and they make excellent broilera an'
roastera. As layers they are amonl
the best, averaging about tourteei
dozen eggs year and as winter lay
era they are well under ordinary cir
cumstnnoes,"