March 5, 1984

Dear Mr Plant,

I was pleased to hear from you. Your letter dated 21 February arrived here on 27 February which was just five days after the postmark date.

I note your continuing problem with your eyesight and am wondering whether you use on a continuing basis, twice a day, Timoptic (timolol maleate, MS&D) 0.25%. Since I commenced using this, any further deterioration of the eye condition (in my left eye) has been halted. The right eye has another problem but I still use the Timoptic in that eye. Will you tell me your experience.

It is of interest to me that you will write a review of the new APA Standard of Perfection. I want you to know that I had my housekeeper read to me the whole of it, from cover to cover. I’m certain that you will note that many descriptions within the APA work are not complete. The descriptions do not follow my pattern of describing every section of the bird in both shape and color patterns (proceeding from head to toe) which is a sequence which I follow religiously to be of the maximum assistance to the judge, and breeder, both beginner and experienced.

In the color rendering section, I found that several breed pictures were mislabelled. I suppose you will find these yourself. Admittedly, it is nice to have color rendering for each breed but I wonder just how many people will purchase this volume for $35.00 per copy after the first purchases for libraries and personal collections have been made. I prefer to see something such as our 6th Edition which can market for $12.00. The APA has never gotten straightened out on the relationship and descriptions of the Booted Bantam and the Belgian Bearded D’Anvers Bantam. They are two distinct breeds. Mrs Banning has told me that the Booted Bantam was used to develop the Belgian Bearded D’Anvers Bantam; thus there are different breeds.

I have recently revised the ABA descriptions of the two breeds to accentuate this differences. You will see them in the next Quarterly of the next Yearbook.

I heartily applaud your attitude to get on with it. It is always possible to revise a paper. I’d like to say again that you certainly have my concurrence to use ABA descriptions without alteration. They are complete, including foot feathering. I’ll write more later.

Kindest regards,