The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-11
Dependable Rhode Island Reds
(By Prof. H. Frederic Stoneburn,
Poultry Editor Of The World.)

In less than : quarter century the
American breed of fowls known as
Rhode Island Reds rose from obscurlty
and swept over the greater part Of the
civilized world. Few, if any, breeds
have so quickly ccnne into prominence
and received such general approval.
There have been ,nstancies where cer-
tain breeds have been forced upon the
public through the use of aggressive
publicity methods, even though lack
in real value. But they quickly
faded out of sigh. if they did not pos
sess merit, if they failed to make good
in the hands of the poultrymen who
were induced to test them. The Reds
have made good end their popularity
has steadily increased. This is the
final proof th:t they do possess un-
usual value
The history of the origin and de-
veloprlent of this great American
breed is most interesting. Sorle OF
the exact details regarding its early
history cannot be ascersained, but the
following information is approximate
ly correct:
II southeastern corner Of the state
tf f iode Island is not rich agIcul-
ture section, but for generations 1t
has supported 4 very considerable
poultry population. Possibly the
farmers of that section turned to
poultry raising because their fields
were not fertile, because the poultry
crop paid better than any other.
Bounded on the west by the broad
Sakonnet river and on the south by
the Atlantic ocean, this section enjoys
relatively open winters with but lit
tie snow. Thus the fowls can get
out on the bare ground practically
every day in the year, and as rule
are permitted to roam at will. Poul-
try houses are usually simple and in
expensive, rather light in construction,
and until recent years at least de-
eidedly primitive methods of poultry
management were generally followed.
While this section has alweys pro-
duced a considerable volume of good
table poultry, particular stress has al
ways been laid on the production OF
the big, brown-shelled eggs which are
demanded by the select markets Of
New England. Before methods OF
transportation had been perfected
these eggs We're sent to the nearby
cities of Fall River, Newport and
Providence, though some went to
Boston.
In view of all the conditions it is
obvious that these farmer-poultrymen
would think highly of fowls which
were extremely hardy and able to
Withstand hardship, which would pro-
duce generous yield of brown eggs
and dress off table stock having the
desired yellow legs and skin. When
the original Reds appeared in this
Little Compton district of Rhode ISL
and they seemed to meet the very
PRACTICAL requirements of the poultry
men there, and they soon outnum-
bered all other kinds of fowls.
The foundation of the breed was
laid about the middle of the last CEN
tury by a retired sea captain, one
William Trip, who kept considerable
Loultry. and also bought eggs from
neighboring farmers for sale on the
market. One of his seafaring friends
brought Mr.. Trip some Malay Games
from an Asiatic port and these Wig
orous red and black males were mated
with some of the old-tine Shanghais
and other common fowls of the dis
trict. Many of the cockerels result
ing from these matings we're bril-