when it is possible, specimens that have been bred in line for males or females, as the case may be, for years, success in producing high-class Barred Plymouth Rocks should be attained.

WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCKS.

The White Plymouth Rocks are (so-called) sports from the Barred variety. There are two causes found for such a variation in the formation of the breed-first, the Black Java was part of the original foundation stock, and all solid black fowls are apt to occasionally throw white chicks; and, second, the cross of the white Asiatic fowl, for the purpose of enlarging the size, clearing the plumage, and increasing the size of their eggs, might be expected to occasionally crop out in the offspring. It is not surprising, therefore, that white fowls have been occasionally produced; the greatest surprise in their appearance is their good Plymouth Rock form.

THEIR ORIGIN.

About 1875 or 1876 Mr. Oscar F. Frost, of Monmouth, Me., had hatched from eggs laid by Barred Plymouth Rocks some white chicks that grew to be good Plymouth Rocks in shape, but white in color. These are said to have been the first that were ever mentioned up to that time as having made an appearance. As soon as it was admitted that such was the case, others through the country claimed to have had the same experience in their flocks. In almost every case they seemed to come from either the Essex or the Drake strain of birds.

The originator of what was known as the Essex strain of Barred Plymouth Rocks claims to have crossed into his flock a fowl called the White Birmingham. It is claimed by some that this is the true reason for this strain producing white fowls. There was considerable activity in an effort by those who disliked the idea of allowing a white fowl to be called a Plymouth Rock to have them named Birminghams, but the satisfactory establishment of their descent from the Plymouth Rocks, the evidence that they reproduced their qualities, and the presence of as good form as could be shown in the Barred variety secured to them their right to the family name.

When we speak of this variety as a sport from the Barred Rocks, we mean that eggs laid by the Barred variety produced these white specimens, and that this was simply the reappearance of ancestral characters through the action of well-known laws of heredity. It is asserted that it is not an unusual occurrence for some lots of Barred Plymouth Rocks to produce solid or almost solid black fowls. This also might be expected, since there were black as well as white breeds used for foundation stock.

When solid black fowls produce pure white offspring these are called Albinos. This is looked upon as a weakness in color of the

parent birds. But when any made breed shows a tendency to "throw back" to any one of its ancestors it is called a reversionary tendency, or the going back to an ancestor. In this case the white specimen took the color of one of its ancestors and held to the shape of its immediate family.

COLOR CONDITIONS.

We must not have the impression that the first of these white sports had good clear color, for they had not. It took several years of great care in mating to get them started toward breeding true. This, however, is not remarkable, since our very oldest known breeds will not breed absolutely true at all times. A new variety could not be expected to do better than those which have been carefully selected for many

years.

As the result of patience, skill, and good judgment we now have the White Plymouth Rock, which is of as good form as can be found in the Barred variety. They fully equal them in size, and their color is as pure white as is seen on any fowl. Many of them are pure white in plumage, with beaks, shanks, and feet of beautiful orange yellow, giving the combination of color so popular in this country.

PROPER MATINGS.

matter of what varietyThere is but the one true

As stated before, all Plymouth Rocks, no color they may be, must have the same shape. Plymouth Rock shape. An effort has been made to state plainly in previous pages just what this should be, and the first and most essential requirement is that all specimens of the white variety that are used for breeding shall be most perfect in Plymouth Rock shape. As there are but two conditions of quality to be considered good shape and pure color-it is of the greatest importance to have them both as near to perfection as possible.

Fine large specimens of most perfect Plymouth Rock shape which are pure white in color and whose head, comb, and eyes are right up to Standard demands are the only kind worth consideration for breeding purposes. With these they must also have a good, richly colored, yellow beak, shanks, and feet. It is simply folly to hope to produce good high-class show specimens from under-sized, ill-shaped, poorcolored specimens. If simply handling them for eggs, select the best egg producers and keep them; but if breeding for exhibition, do not waste time trying to succeed with even fair quality. To succeed it is necessary to have the very best.

WHITE AS A COLOR.

The pure white plumage of a fowl is quite as difficult to obtain in perfection as any of the variety colors; yellowish or creamy tints, also black specks, will show in the feathers of the very best strains. Often