40 



THE CAMPINES 



other point in their favor is the very small amount of 

 feed they consume, and vv^hen left on free range, they 

 will hunt their own food. We believe the South is an 

 ideal country for the Campine and if allowed on free 

 range and left to roost in open shed they would do 

 good work for their owners. Our birds are raised on 

 farms and we find the Campines as they come in from 

 this farm about November 10th to ISth are in the finest 

 possible condition. 



While the Campine stands confinement well, yet it 

 is an active bird and free range suits it better, and un- 

 der that condition it will do the most for its owner. One 

 trouble we find with the Campine is they do not lay 



well fertilized eggs as a rule before the latter part of 

 April or the first part of May. But we find Campines 

 hatched in June and July mature in plenty of time for 

 early spring hatching. Chicks when started grow ex- 

 ceedingly fast. 



In conclusion we will say all who take up Campines 

 will no doubt be pleased with them. The Rev. Mr. 

 Jones says: "Once a Campinist always a Campinist.'' 

 Now since the plumage is so much improved they are 

 becoming a fancier's fowl that is beautiful to behold and 

 in a few more years of improvement they will be one 

 of our leading exhibition birds, as well as one of the 

 greatest layers to be found. 



The Silver Campine 



This Article is Based on the Experience of One of Americas Leading Campine Breeders — As Layers, Campines 



Compare Favorably With Leghorns — The Third Generation of American Bred Campines 



Are Very Hardy — Correct Type and Color Discussed 



By Frank E. HerinA, South Bend. Ind. 



SUFFICIENT has already been written concerning 

 the history of the Campine and its ancient lin- 

 eage through the Romans and Franks, who have 

 preserved its fame in their chronicles. At the present 

 time, it seems to me, those interested in this breed are 

 concerned chiefly with two considerations. The first ol 

 these is the present utility or commercial value of the 

 breed, and the value it is likely to have in the future. 

 Upon this point depends the wide-spread breeding and 

 popularity of the Campine. Of secondary importance 

 is the consideration of the physical characteristics that 

 breeders should try to evolve. 



Silver King II, a Silver Campine cockerel owned by 

 Frank B. Hering, winner of 1st prize at the Coliseum 

 Show, Chicago, December 12-17, 1913. Pronounced by 

 competent judges to be the best cockerel of the year 



From my point of view the discussions of this breed 

 that I have read, have too much theory and too little of 

 actual observation. The opinions that I am expressing 

 here are from personal experience and study of the Sil- 

 ver Campine. I do not desire my judgment to be taken 

 as final. 



On my plant, The Willows Farm, I have S. C. White 

 Leghorns and Silver Campines. Thus I have had an 

 opportunity to compare the relative merits of the two 

 varieties. The Leghorns, of which I have about a 

 thousand, are carefully bred and have won distinction in 

 the leading show rooms of the country. My study has 

 led me to several conclusions favorable to the Campine. 

 I consider it as good a forager as the Leghorn and not 

 nearly so shy. As a table bird, I should rank it higher, 

 its meat being a bit more tender, and not so stringy. 

 On an average, the Campine eggs are larger than the 

 Leghorn eggs. At the present time I have a number of 

 Campines, both hens and pullets, whose eggs are as 

 large as those of any chicken eggs I have ever seen. 



Whether or not the Campine lays as many eggs as 

 the Leghorn I cannot yet say. My Leghorns are an 

 exceptionally good laying strain and I do not think a 

 few years' experience would justify me in drawing con- 

 clusions relative to the laying qualities of the Campine. 

 During April the laying average of my Campines was 

 between 55 and 60 per cent, and at the time of writing. 

 May, the percentage remains about the same. I think 

 that the number of eggs will depend very largely upon 

 the strain. A Campine flock that has been carefully 

 bred will lay just as well as a good egg-laying strain of 

 Leghorns. 



The hardiness of a breed is an important factor in 

 determining its commercial value. I have found that 

 the Campines stand extremes of heat and cold unusually 

 well, but that they are susceptible to the poultry dis- 

 eases occasioned by draughty houses and dampness. 

 This is to be expected since the Campines are a recent 

 importation into the country. The more severe climate 

 of their new environment as compared with the climate 

 of their original home in western Europe, is bound to 

 make itself felt unless a fair measure of protection is 

 given them. I am now raising my third generation of 



