Platt

T W Platt

 

Photo, Mr Platt with Michael & Amla of Ways Green

From the english paper publication “Our Dogs”

dated December 9, 1927

Mr.T.W. Platt`s Celebrated Borzois, At Ways Green Farm, Winsford, Cheshire.

“…In the beginning of this year I read an article by Mr. Platt in the pages of a leading agricultural ar.d livestock weekly. The title of the article was “ Dog Breeding: A Profitable Sideline.” and it was ©no of the soundest and most practical I have ever perused. That did not surprise me, as long before he took up Borzois. Mr. Platt bad an enviable name as a breeder of larger livestock, particularly cattle. I do not remember all the excellent advice which that article contained, but one sentence remains in my mind, and it was this: “My experience leaves me with no regrets, as. startiug aright with the best type of puppies and paying a correspondingly high price for them, I have had a satisfactory return for the outlay in successes on the show bench and profitable transaction* in the market.” Now, Mr. Platt is one of the moat modest men 1 have ever met. and there is no boasting in that Quotation; it is simply a plain statement of facts, and a plain statement, too. of his own policy.

A busy man. with big agricultural interests, Mr. Platt has not much time for exhibiting, but when ac does it is rather а сале of putting down his brush at one end of Ihe deck, and sweeping up the prizes right along to the other end. It is not simply a matter of possessing the material, but of seeing that that material is developed under the happiest and most perfect environment. There is neither coddling ix>r captivity, and as one paused to enjoy the lovely view from Ways Green Farm, overlooking the Cheshire Broads, ar.d with its luuds running for more than a mile up the beautiful Weaver Valley, one wanted an artist’s brush, realising the futit+ty of a journalist’s pets. But, then, one wants the same interpretative vehicle to describe the Borzois; adults ar.d youngsters, they met one in diacriminating welcome, while a small child hugged each indiscriminately; ami there was neither a scowl nor a growl, but a universal amity, begotten of exquisite temperaments and lovely natures. Suddenly seme of the hounds, in the exuberance of the joy of living, raced away over the fields, taking gates in their stride. The electric bare has my sympathy if the Ways Green Borzois get on its trail it will have to travel some if its tin lummy Is to be intact at the end of the round!

Perhaps because he saw my look of bewilderment ms he brought one perfect hound aftor another before me, Mr. Platt said with a smile: “Oh. you needn’t review them all; suppose you only mention those in the photographs.” So I thankfully lake the hint, and begin with Michael ok Ways Green and Maiste or Ways Greks, two of the breed’* great winner*. On hi* first appearance Michael went through all hia clashes and won the challenge certificate a: Manchester Show, while his other victories inoludo those at Leeds, Liverpool, and Darlington. That brad summary is not fair to such a dog. but Mr. Platt doe.- not keep ary record of his show successes; that must be my apology, too, for failing to detail Maiiie’s innumerable wine. Very till, with id»al fronts and deep brisket»», beautiful arches, powerful loins, and exquisite finish of hindquarters, with long tails, gorgeous coats, and with that irresistible grace of head and expression which only the best Borzois possess, Michael and Miusie arc out of Cirice of Add lest one. who won the bitch championship a: Manchester in 1D25. Cirico is sister to Ch. Groftni, Ch. Otlai, Ch. Pospeck, and Ch. Novikoff, while her dam i- Ch. Marie of Addlestone, and her sire the famous imported dog Xarcisee of Addlestone. A rather flabbergasting family, aren’t they?

And you touch the famous again when you come to Flash or Ways Green and Mavis or Ways Green. who have won some forty prises and medak. Both have the ion* necks ar.d the sloping shoulders of all the «lock in thie kennel, and both, too, hare the beautiful natures and that absolute soundness» and supple action which characterise their kennel companion». Flash ie by Nevarc President ex Ch. Xevarc Bubbles.

Triumphant as they sire familiar on the show bench, too, ire Marie ok Ways Green and Cikice. and they also. r>y the:r progeny, have proved the potency of their pedigree, with the addition of their own excellence.

Two of the younger generation^ and tuishown as yet. are AvniOXY or Wats Green and Ax la or Ways Green, by Ch. Kraus e of Addlestoue ex Flash of Ways Green. Grandly grown whites, with b’.ack-ar.d-tan markings, this dog and bitch will make a sensation when they are lenched; they have the fineness of heads, with the veming which so many moderns have lost, and еуез which arc vocal with intelligence there are no mental second-rater# acre, just a* there are no physical second-rater*. Anthony einnd* between 33 and 31 inches at shoulder, and I should select him a» the ideal mate for light or small bitches. He is a fitting addition to the marvellous stud dogs which this kennel contains, and o:‘ which the white, fawn-marked Michael, already mentioned, ia one of the most popular; he stands 33 inches at shoulder.

When I was making arrangements to review the Ways Green stock. Mr. Plait happened to tell me that i.e had between forty and fifty puppies, but when the review came to be made, that number had decreased to a fourth of its total. Some of them wemt to fanners, and all went to delighted purchasers, a few of them abroad, for purchasers come and then come again to Ways Green.

Looking through the stud books. I noticed that sever*! litters were due about the end of last month, and in that little aside there is a tip which the wise will not neglect to take advantage of. And there is another in thie “ My stock ia so large that I fear some of the adult6 will have to go.” Bnt whether it be adult or youngster, the purchaser of Ways Green stock will never fall through the trip-door of mediocrity. The Ways Green triumphs are many. but. after all, they are but the reward of an ideal gloriously achieved.

W.H.