30
August 1982
Dear
Mr Plant,
A
lot of time has passed since I last wrote you for which I am sorry. There has
been a vast number of problems concerning the forthcoming 6th
edition of Bantam Standard which has
taken a goodly amount of time in conferences and correspondence. In addition,
due to my eyesight state, it took some time to get through your new book on
the Pekin Bantam.
I
was greatly impressed when I read your book. I know that it reflects the vast
amount of research and correlation of the varying data which you must have
performed so that it could be incorporated.
Upon
reflection, I believe you have presented a substantial case that the Pekin
Bantam originally came from China.
During
my lifetime dating back to the 1920’s, Will F.Caskey, Topeka, Kansas, was
the most famous breeder of Black Cochin Bantam in this country. His male line
was particularly good and he often won champion Bantam of the show in many
parts of the country. D.Ross Blanford, Albuquerque, NM, purchased the stud of
Bantam of Will Caskey after the latter’s death. The Caskey strain has been
continued by Blanford who has been a consistent winner. He just recently
passed away. At the time I was writing the first Bantam
Standard. A.L.Love, Mt Airy, North Carolina, was a Cochin Bantam Breeder
who developed them in many different varieties and I worked closely with him
in establishing the standard description.
I
have never received the sketches you mentioned in the last paragraph of your
letter of 10-3-82. Am I correct in assuming that the illustrations on pages
179 and 180 are the ideal illustration which we should use when we print out
next standard including the Australian Pekin? I’m desperately in need of an
illustration of a pair - the Australian Pekin Bantam - that you approve for
publication.
Since
there was trouble with the mail, please inform me whether you did receive a
numbered copy of the 5th Edition of Bantam Standard which I mailed approximately last of August 1981. I
hope it didn’t go astray.
Hope
you’ve had a good winter.