BUFF WYANDOTTES 205 



a few such birds as a reservoir of strength. The wear and tear of breeding tends 

 to make buff come lighter each year, unless means are at hand to hold the shade 

 desired. Breeding year after year from buff without the black to hold it will finally 

 cause the color to fade to lemon, and the white in wings and main tail will at last 

 begin to show. 



Females should always be of good general type and shape, with size and bone. 

 Alert, well curved pullets, with plenty of room in them for egg organs, should be 

 the aim. They are the layers. Some of our best show females are also our best 

 layers. 



We want broad backs, flat at the shoulders ; and we also want well spread 

 Wyandotte tails. 



A good head on a female means a good body, and the general remarks about 

 color apply to her as well. The male will correct color that is slightly uneven, 

 especially if due to improper molting. Hens .free from mealiness or white in any 

 part of the plumage will be corrected by the male if of the same approximate shade. 

 Try to have them as smooth as possible in this respect, however. Do not use 

 females of an entirely different shade to the male. If they are the same color, or 

 slightly darker, they will be better than if too light. On the other hand, they may 

 be light owing to age, and this should be considered when mating. Good judgment 

 and knowledge of what has gone before must always be used. Hens with dark necks 

 and light bodies will not be bettered if the neck is stronger than the color of the 

 male. Books could be written on color and color breeding, and most know more 

 about what not to do than what to do. 



The Standard color. A splendid description of buff was written 

 for the Standard of 1898. Breeders and judges appreciated at that time 

 the need of reducing to definite terms exacty what was wanted, and the 

 Standard description as then written has been abridged but never modified. 

 The 1898 description was as follows : 



Surface color throughout one even shade of rich golden buff, free .from shafting 

 or mealy appearance; the head, neck, hackle, back, wing bows and saddle richly 

 glossed with metallic luster. Under-color, a lighter shade, as free as possible from 

 all foreign color. Other things being equal, the specimen showing the richest under- 

 color shall receive the preference. Black or white showing in wings or tail shall 

 be considered alike objectionable. Specimens showing different shades of buff in 

 neck, back, wings or breast, or in two or more of these sections on either male or 

 female, shall be considered a serious defect. One harmonious blending of buff in all 

 sections is most desirable. 



Better color in females needed. Good Buff Wyandotte males pre- 

 sent a beautiful sheet of buff color, but good females are rarely seen 

 any more. The best buff females of the golden days of 1910-11 had 

 edging on each feather. It added brilliancy to the plumage. The 

 laced birds were free from shafting, and not darker but brighter in 

 color as a result of the brilliant edging. 



The breeders of Reds had some of this lacing. The majority of 

 the buff and red breeders wanted to get away from it. Lester Tomp- 

 kins said at the time that he would rather have lacing than some 

 other things. He didn't think it was much of a defect. The buff 

 men, however, particularly the Buff Wyandotte breeders, have suc- 

 ceeded in eliminating the brilliant edging. We would like to see 

 some of the rich golden buffs back to take the place of some of the 

 hens and pullets that are being shown today. These hens particu- 

 larly are patchy and mealy. 



In order to produce level colored females, more attention should 



