The Campine History by the Rev. B. A. Gates combines a short breed history with practical material on selection, housing, feeding and exhibition. Campine Herald published this first edition at Franklinville, New York, in 1913; the title page records copyright in that year by R. W. Van Hoesen.
A concise breed reference
In the preface, Gates explains that he wants to bring available information into a compact form for Campine breeders and people interested in poultry more generally. He acknowledges contributions from breeders in several countries.
The result moves between historical accounts, descriptions of birds and practical observations. Photographs of individual specimens and flocks help connect the written discussion with the Campine’s characteristic appearance.
The book is useful as a record of a breed being interpreted across different poultry communities, rather than as a general manual covering every kind of domestic fowl.
History, related birds and competing claims
The early pages examine accounts of ancient Campines and discuss relationships with other European laying fowls. Gates does not accept every traditional story without question; some remote claims are explicitly treated as doubtful.
Comparisons with Braekels include size, egg production and the difficulty of making sweeping statements when strains differ. The text recognizes that birds within one breed can vary in vigor, size and performance.
These discussions are historical arguments, not a settled modern account of poultry ancestry. Their value is in showing what breeders believed, what they disputed and which characteristics they used in making comparisons.
English and American development
The English type and its standard receive detailed attention. The reproduced description covers general form, carriage, comb, legs, plumage and the markings expected of the bird.
A later section follows the Campine in America and the effort to establish a consistent standard. Gates describes the American Campine Club’s work in 1913 and the problems caused when poorly understood or inconsistent types entered breeding pens.
The book discusses the newly adopted American standard but states that it does not reproduce that copyrighted text. This distinction matters when using the volume as a reference: its complete printed standard is the English one, accompanied by commentary on American developments.
Main points in breeding
The breeding material considers type, barring, combs and the selection of parent birds. Gates also stresses vigor and stamina, arguing that attractive markings cannot compensate for weak stock.
Single mating and the preservation of a consistent breed type form part of the discussion. Examples of particular features make the account useful to readers studying how exhibition ideals influenced breeding choices.
For a heritage-poultry reader, the broader interest lies in the balance between appearance and productive qualities. The author repeatedly connects the form of the bird with its reputation as a layer.
Chicks, housing and feeding
A practical chapter begins with young chicks and their need for protection from chilling and damp ground. It then considers growing and mature birds, fresh air, dry quarters and the amount of range available.
The housing account includes a winter flock in a severe lakeside climate. A description of the poultry house explains partitions, windows, a passage and the use of glass and muslin in the front.
Feeding is discussed alongside housing and the risks of overfeeding. These are period methods and observations, most useful when read as examples of how early breeders connected the birds’ surroundings with health and laying performance.
The exhibition Campine and the scan
The exhibition chapter considers the breed’s appeal to practical keepers, breeders and fanciers. It recognizes that a bird’s useful qualities and its exact conformity to a standard are related concerns but do not always amount to the same judgment.
This free ebook suits poultry historians, heritage-breed enthusiasts and readers comparing early breed handbooks. Its combination of international history, standards, breeding notes and housing discussion gives it a broader scope than its title alone suggests.
The PDF contains sixty digital pages, including photographs and period advertisements. Some portions of the scan are pale and benefit from enlargement. The original title page is used as the featured image, and the printed pagination is the clearest guide when following the main text.
Book details
- Author: Rev. B. A. Gates
- Publisher: Campine Herald, Franklinville, New York
- Year: 1913
- Edition: First edition, 1913
- Digital length: 60 PDF pages
- Language: English
- File size: 3.38 MB
