Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-30
Pre-eminently Practical and
Utilitarian They Also Sat-
isfy the Most Fastidious
Fancier
The ''Rocks" and "Dottes"
and ''Reds" Lead the
World as All-Round Cen
eral Purpose Fowls
BY NJ. l.. LONGFIELD

Author and Practical Poultryman
America leads the world In the
super-exccllence of her breeds of poul-
try. This is not mere spread-eagleism.
1t is Conformity to fact"
China bred Cochins, Langshans, and
Shanghais a thousand years At the
end of that time her breeds were little
better than mongrels. America has
been breeding fowls for about fifty
years. And in this half century we
have not only perfected many foreign
breeds of fowls, but we have originated
and bred UP to a fixed standard at least
three of the greatest breeds of birds
in the world.
1t is worth while to face this fact.
"IMPORTED" is a tag that has small
er meaning than formerly.
IS different varieties. Every one of
them has made its mark and repre-
sents quality
The great Plymouth Rocks probably
hold the pre-eminence. AS general
purpose fowl the Barred variety is
all the breeds of fowls. The Whites
and the Bluffs and the Colum bians are
making their way steadily to a front
line position.
The Wyandottes stand next to the
Rocks" in popular favor down to the
present moment. There are no less
than eight different varieties Of these
splendid birds; Silver, Golden, Black,
Buff, White, Silver -penciled, Partridge,
and Columbian. The Whites have won
out against all the rest, though not one
| has failed to command universal
admiration.
The Rhode Island Reds are a more
recent breed. For a dozen years they
have been forging to the front in
mighty strides until they threaten to-
day to supplant even the Rocks" and
the 'Dottes' in public favor. They are
divided into two camps, the single
comb and the Rose-comb varieties.
There appears to be little difference in
the popularity of these two kinds OF
Reds" Under this heading it might
be we'll to mention the Rhode Island
Whites" a breed originated within
two or three years, and which gives
promise of making a fine showing in
the near future.
The Javas, Black and Mottled, the
Dominiques, and the Buckeyes, COM
plete the list of the purely American
breeds
Practical and Unitarian
The American breeds are built fol-
business. They aim directly at the
center of the bulls eye of efficiency
and they hit it every time. The Yam
kee" wants more than frills and furbe-
lows. He wants something that will
stand without hitching" as the West
ern man says, something that you car
'tie to- Our breeds of poultry an
swer completely the universal taste
and demand.
The Plymouth Rock is found in
American poultry yards more numer-
ously probably than all other breeds
of fowls combined. Why? Because
it is first of all a UTILITY breed Fol
the same reason the Wyandottes an6
the Rhode Island Reds are sweeping
to the front in every State. First of al
they have the qualities that win ir
the markets. The typical American
is wise; he seeks first utility and eff.
cheney. Assured of these, he is as
sured of everything he desires be-
sides.
What solid all-'round qualities ir
these great forefront American
breeds! They are medium in size
Standard weight of Plymouth Rock
cock, 91a pounds. The Wyandottes
and the Reds are one pound lighter
Hens are two pounds lighter thar
roosters. These weights are ideal fol
market fowls. The twelve-pound bird
as we'll as the three or four-pound
bird. will miss the mark of largest
popularity in the broiler or roastel
trade. In quality of meat, too. these
three great breeds are probably Sec
ond to none.
In egg production they are among