16 



in everything else, the perfect birds form the exception, and as Dr. BENNETT 

 gays, " to have many of them it is only necessary to breed well and kill well. 

 By this process you will get rid of the vulture hock." 



CROSSING THE BEEED. 



As we have said elsewhere, to insure successful and beneficial crossing of 

 distinct breeds, in order to produce a new and what may be considered a 

 valuable variety, the breeder should be well versed in the laws of procreation, 

 and the varied influences of parents upon their offspring. It is avered that 

 all fowls bred in this country are crosses or made breeds, either by design or 

 accident. Therefore crossing does not necessarily produce a breed ; but on 

 the other hand, it always produces a variety, and that variety becomes a dis- 

 tinctive breed only where there is a sufficiency of stamina to make a dis- 

 tinctive race, and continue a progeny with the uniform or leading character- 

 istics of its progenitors. In crossing one breed with another we should say 

 put a light cock with dark hens or vice versa, as in this case there is more 

 liability of producing not only a new variety, but also some fine birds in the 

 brood. Care is required in this matter, as in all others, (in mating for cross- 

 breeding,) and patience is indispensable to success. All disqualified birds 

 should be taken from the pen at the earliest moment, and sent to the table, 

 leaving the best selections to breed from. We have made a fine cross by 

 placing a dark Brahma hen with a white Dorking cock, and, on another occa- 

 sion, made a good cross by placing a White-faced Black Spanish cock with a 

 white Dorking pullet. There is no question but that good and valuable 

 breeds of fowls, of beautiful plumage, may be thrown by these crosses. 



