68 



THE CAMPINES 



number of bars on the female would naturally tend to 

 produce an increased number of bars on the male as 

 well, also to increase the number of bars would mean to 

 narrow them down in width. At present the natural ten- 

 dency and most difficult task for Campine breeders is to 

 produce males with a wider, clearer white bar on saddle 

 and back. If Mr. Piatt's methods were followed double 

 mating would have to be resorted to in order to produce 

 Standard color males and females, because the finely 

 barred females will produce males of finer barring than 

 the Standard now calls for. It rests with the breeders 

 in general to decide whether or not such advice is to 

 be followed, because as soon as it is, you will establish a 

 double mating Standard. 



Personally we can see just as much beauty in a fe- 

 male with two or three bars to the feather as in one with 

 four, and the former with fewer bars is the one which 

 will breed the beautiful males. It should be remembered 

 that we determine the number of bars on the feather by 

 the number of bars on the shortest wing bow and back 

 feathers. 



We do not wish to give the reader the impression 

 that we advocate wide, open white barring on the female 

 wing and back, but simply wish to point out the iact 

 that to crowd too many bars upon one feather, would 

 mean to decrease the width of same, making it even more 

 difficult than it now is to produce specimens fit to show. 



One of the most neglected sections in the produc- 

 tion of Standard bred Campines today is color of neck. 

 We have seen specimens in which the neck hackle showed 

 penciling fully half way up its length, awarded the prize 

 of honor. To our mind one of the distinguishing beau- 

 ties of the Silver Campine is its pure white neck hackle 

 and we are sorry to see breeders ignoring this quality to 

 such a great extent. The aim has been to produce as 

 much color and barring into the breast as possible, and 

 the desire to perfect this section has been responsible 

 for the great amount of color bred into the silvery white 

 neck hackle. Judges are compelled to make their de- 

 cisions according to the scale of points in the Standard 

 governing that breed and the fact that the present scale 

 of points allots only five to color of neck and six to that 

 of breast makes it necessary to place the awards accord- 

 ingly and in harmony with the value of each section, thus 

 enabling the dark neck hackled specimens to win. We 

 believe that this condition should be reversed and six 

 points allotted to neck color and five to color of breast. 

 We would like to see a well marked breast developed, 

 but believe that to retain the beauty of the breed, neck 

 color should receive preference over breast. 



There is always room for improvement even in the 

 productions of the best of our efforts. The present 

 Standard was originated by a very capable committee, 

 but despite this fact we need not feel that the height 

 of perfection has been accomplished in Standard making, 

 and to stop where we are and say, "Amen forever" would 

 be poor judgment in our attempt to further the interests 

 and welfare of the breed. E. F. Dean mentions a very 

 important point in his letter and refers to color of main 

 tail feathers of male, which has been omitted from the 

 Standard description. The question is, shall we aim to 

 produce barring in this section or shall the tail remain 

 black? 



We believe that an effort should be made to perfect 

 the white markings of main tail feathers, which now al- 

 ready appear in the best specimens. Another reason 

 why the male tail should be barred is that such barring 



would be in harmony with the corresponding section or 

 tail of female, which all agree should be barred as reg- 

 ularly as possible. 



A Standard demanding the tail to be black on the 

 male and barred on the female would in our opinion be 

 contrary to the natural laws of heredity, and would also 

 require double mating to produce these contrasting ef- 

 fects in male and female. 



On page 65 will be found an illustration showing 

 three sets of feathers. No. 1, illustrating a very com- 

 mon defect, known as intermediate barring. This blem- 

 ish to the surface color of the, Campine is generally prev- 

 alent in back and saddle of the female, also in lesser 

 tail sickles of the male. It is of a brownish hue and 

 should be obliterated by selective breeding. It is a ser- 

 ious defect and should be mentioned as such in connec- 

 tion with a Standard that is supposed to embody our 

 best efforts and be thorough and accurate. 



• The set of feathers, No. 2 in cut, is intended to illus- 

 trate the cause of mossiness on backs of females. It will 

 be noticed that this defect is prevalent upon end of 

 feather, because of the irregularity of the last white bar 

 and a surplus of white tipping at the end of each feather. 



This brings up a subject which should receive care- 

 ful thought and consideration of the breeder. We refer 

 to the white tipping'at end of each feather on group No. 

 3 of same cut. These feathers were selected from the 

 back of a very wonderfully barred pullet and show ex- 

 cellent straight, clear white barring of about the correct 

 relative proportions of black and white. It will be noticed 

 that the white tip at end of feather does not benefit the 

 straight barred effect in the least, in fact is a blemish as 

 it appears on the surface. When the feather ends in the 

 middle of a black bar on the underlying feather, this 

 white tip breaks the regularity of same and we see no 

 reason why breeders should strive to produce it or to 

 incorporate it in a Standard. 



The English Standard mentions it and we are also 

 aware that it exists in nearly all strains of Campines, but 

 it is our opinion that to eradicate it, would be a benefit 

 towards perfecting a clear barred breed of chickens. This 

 suggestion may be somewhat premature at this' stage of 

 Campine development, but is it not policy and reasonable 

 to study this color problem carefully and thoroughly, and 

 determine the most advisable route to follow in the 

 breeding and mating of Campines towards an ideal which 

 is beautiful? 



It may take years to accomplish this, but we feel 

 that we are correct in our conviction regarding this 

 point and it should be considered carefully. If the white 

 tip is not beneficial to allow a clear barred effect to be 

 produced, why not begin now to obliterate such a defect. 

 Breeding fancy poultry to a high standard is a very dif- 

 ficult and complex problem from the color standpoint 

 alone, but this should never become the one great desire 

 and hobby. Shape and vitality are important factors in 

 striving to perfect a breed of fowls which are intended to 

 be useful and ornamental. 



Vitality is one of the most important considerations 

 in mating and rearing Campines. Improve this quality 

 by selection and care. Keep the stock healthy and breed 

 from only the most vigorous specimens, and in time the 

 breed will be greatly improved. The following letters 

 were received from a number of prominent Campine 

 breeders and will no doubt be of great interest to the 

 amateur, as they are from men who have been success- 



