would YOU send? Which would you rather have if you were 

 choosing for your own yard ?" said one to the other. "The slim, 

 long bird, every time," was the reply. "What, — sure ! even with 

 the flawed wing, and remembering that it will affect the whole 

 flock?" Yes; even at that. I stand for type first." "But what 

 about shipping it to a customer? Would you decide on that one 

 to fill the order?" "No — o, I'm afraid not," was the hesitant 

 reply. "The customer will be better satisfied with the bird that is 

 better in color." But the farm wants the upstanding bird. 



Standard law, as generally applied, theoretically puts shape 

 above color; in actual practice, color, (when at all hard to get) 

 virtually takes precedence of type, as the birds are judged in 

 •competition. And this is what every breeder of Standard birds 

 has to meet. He dares not send what he believes to be the better 

 bird, many times, because custom has over-ridden Standard Law. 

 The very simple reason is, doubtless, that color appeals far more 

 quickly to the average eye, than does shape. Many a breeder of 

 years' standing, cannot select the birds typical in shape and style. 

 And the public, which sees the shows and which buys stock, is 

 more easily satisfied with the better colored bird, when it becomes 

 a choice between color and shape, unless the shape is inexcusably 

 bad. 



I have known the American farm and the American farmer 

 •ever since I opened my eyes on one of these farms for the first 

 time — my father's farm. On this farm, there was a pond, and 

 •ducks were always kept and prized, but there was nothing like the 

 Indian Runner. I feel that I am in a position to know something 

 of the farm attitude toward most things. Numbers have had me 

 out to rejoice with them over their Runners, or to help them make 

 selections. And more farmers are taking them up, every week. 



Here I have a farm story. The man who tells it is at least 

 as honest as I am, and of course readers cannot expect me to say 



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