The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-11

liant red in color, though the females
we're nondescript in plumage, rang
ing from almost white to muddy
chocolate. In the male line this
striking color persisted in following
generations and these brilliant red
males were commonly selected to
head the breeding flocks. They were
generally used throughout the Little
Compton section and in honor Of their
originator were commonly call BILL
Trips Fowls"
Because of the peculiar geographl-
cal location of their native section,
in a sort of backwater, through which
there was but little travel, these
husky, business birds did not come
to public attention for nearly fifty
wears. But a few years before the
close OF the last century they were
discovered" and taken up and ex-
rloited in two different ways-by the
fanciers and by the utility poultry
men.
Some we'll known poultry breeders
and exhibitors, o. fancierS, from the
neighboring city of Fall River Sc
lected certain specimens of good color
from various farm focl:s and eXhib-
tied them in one or more of the many
poultry shows in New England. They
later formed club and seriously be-
gan the work of breeding to fix good
type and color.
At about the same date an official
of the Rhode Island Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station had occasion to fire.
uuently visit the farmers in that sec
ton and observe the unusually good
results they were securing from their
poultry. This man rightly concluded
that much of this success was due to
the use of the vigorous red hens
which were found on practically ev-
cry farm, and he determined to intro
duce this unusual breed to the poul-
trymen of America. He secured a
farm, erected buildings and gathered
large flock made up of individual
birds which he selected here and there,
choosing specimens which appealed to
him as being desirable in form and
color.
Then he began to advertise them
to the public, his advertisements ap-
rearing in certain poultry journals.
He laid stress upon the hardness
and laying ability of these red hens,
emphasizing the fact that they were
farmers fowls, bred for business,
rot weakened by years of confine-
ment in little Yards"
do not recall that any breeder had
previously drawn the line so clearly
between fowls bred primarily for ex-'
hibition and those produced strictly
for utility or commercial purposes.
Fut, in my opinion, this man did more
than. any one else to bring the Rhode
Island Red to the attention of the
general public. His appeal struck
home and he quickly built up great
trade in Matching eggs and breeding
stock. But owing to years Of careless
breeding farmer working indie
Iendently defining form and color,
breed characteristics had not been
fixed. Those who took up the breed
were disappointed and disgusted with
tie mixed flocks of youngsters they
feared.
For time it was an open question
whether the breed would make head
way, but in the long run sheer utility
merit won out in spite of the draw
back of lack Of uniformity in form
and color. These chicks laughed at
hardships, lived and grew. They
made nice table fowls, the pullets
were persistent producers of large
eggs. In short these flocks were
profit payers. Handicapped by its ap-
pearance, attacked by the dyed-in-the-
wool fancierc who raised a mighty
cry of "mongre,s. the breed made