THE C A M 1' I N E S 



11 



Russia by Mr. Edward Brown, professor of aviculture 

 in the University of Reading and residing at the exper- 

 imental farm of aviculture in Theale, belonging to the 

 university; secretary of the National Society for the 

 amelioration of utility poultry, and also of the section 

 of the Smithfield Club, which organizes every year the 

 show of dressed poultry, under the patronage of Sir 

 Walter Gilby, Baronet. 



The Braekel had already been seen at the Smith- 

 field, England, Club Show, not for its eggs, but under 

 the form of milk chickens, exposed by the principal mer- 

 chants of Brussels, and grain fed chickens, after hav- 

 ing been put for ten days to fatten, 

 selected and dressed in the fashion 

 of the country by Mr. Ceutrickx of 

 Alost. The last year we were suc- 

 cessful in obtaining permission for 

 the Braekel breed to be represented 

 by a cock and a hen alive, as well 

 as a couple of Coucou de Malines by 

 the side of specimens of the Eng- 

 lish races most renowned for their 

 flesh. 



Mr. Brown in company with Mr. 

 Hunter of America (A. F. Hunter, 

 associate editor R. P. J.), paid us a 

 visit one day in Brussels in order to 

 be shown how aviculture is carried 

 on in Belgium. We spent three days 

 in the district of the Malines, and 

 the three of us made each a separate 

 report, each of us having seen from 

 a different point of view. Our three 

 reports went around the world. Mr. 

 Brown having returned to England, 

 we went with Mr. Hunter to the egg- 

 district, the district of Alost, where 

 the Braekel is on its native ground. 

 We went on a Tuesday to the mar- 

 ket of Sottegem. Mr. de Mulder, 

 was kind enough to show us the 

 workings of an egg market, as it is 

 carried on today and as it was car- 

 ried on in the time of Charles V. 

 (Charles V. was king of France from 

 1364 to 1380). We saw how the eggs 

 were brought, how they were deliv- 

 ered and paid for, how they were 

 packed, a thousand in a strong 

 basket and forwarded without any 



danger of being broken. This we have found admirable. 

 But an Englishman and an American sees this from an 

 entirely different point of view, with an eye distraught 

 because with him the dominant idea is "with us all this 

 is better done." Notwithstanding these gentlemen have 

 remembered the theories exposed during our excursions 

 the influence of blue pigment on the flavor of eggs and 

 flesh, of the yellow pigment on resistance against dis- 

 ease and the effects of humidity, of the development of 

 the comb on the production of eggs, the crowing of the 

 cock on precocity. 



The Congress of St. Petersburg took place in May. 

 In the following year in July there was held a congress 

 of aviculture in Reading, England, Ireland and Canada 

 were represented. We were the only continental repre- 

 sentative. We limited ourselves to explaining the the- 

 ories about Belgian races, but especially that of the 



Braekel. After one or two years the Braekel had ac- 

 quired its title of nobility in England, it was put in the 

 class of exhibition (show) breeds, but in spite of the 

 laudable efforts of Captain Roger and of myself they 

 have been accepted under the false name of Campine, 

 and instead of being judged by the scale of points dic- 

 tated by the Braekel, it is scaled by fancy characteristics. 

 At the Congress of Reading, where we went to up- 

 hold the old theories of breeding always respected in 

 our district of Alost, we enjoyed the reputation of being 

 versed on the subject of egg-laying chickens. Colonel 

 Allsopp took us aside to put the following questions; 



LOUIS VANDER SNICKT IN THE SHOW ROOM 



We are delighted with the very excellent likeness of the late Louis Vander 

 Snickt, by Artist P. J. S. Chatterton, which shows this faithful old friend 

 of poultry culture in a characteristic attitude, judging the Black Whiskered 

 Bantams at the Utrecht, Holland, Show. With tireless interest in high- 

 bred fowls, M. Vander Snickt spent his life in promoting their progress and 

 the success of those who care for them. Studious consideration is expressed 

 in the face and the hands hold the diminutive specimen "U'ith kindly enjoy- 

 ment while examining its fine qualities and comparative value in the class. 

 M. Vander Snickt has been one of the principal judges at Utrecht and other 

 leading shows on the continent for many years, besides proving himself amply 

 capable in poultry matters of advising with the king or directing the farmer 

 or the peasant to more profitable methods of rearing poultry for the market. 

 His sensible ideas of Standard-bred fancy fowls have given distinction to the 

 true old races of Belgium. When directing the Zoological Garden of Ghent, 

 or when in charge of the new Zoo of the Dusseldorf, or as editor of Chasse et 

 Peche of Brussels, his fondness for fine fowls always impelled him to 

 give them a prominent place in his life's valuable work. — F. L. Se^well. 



"What advice can you give me to help me find the best 

 egg-laying hen?" My answer was prompt, "Colonel," I 

 sjid, "go to the market and buy the finest eggs for hatch- 

 ing and the chicks which will be hatched from those 

 eggs will lay eggs similar to those of their mother." 

 The colonel took a step backwards and made a profound 

 bow. We asked why that ceremony, and he said, 

 "Monsieur, when any one makes so sensible an answer 

 it is well worth a mark of respect." 



During the Congress of Reading, the rector of the 

 university invited the members and the leading people 

 of the city to his home. During the evening I had the 

 chance to see exhibited in the same place all the kinds 

 of eggs such as are found every day on the market of 

 London, packed in a special manner and labelled to show 

 the weight and price of each parcel. The eggs from 

 France were the biggest, the finest and the best cared 



