30 THE AMERICAN FOXHOUND 



The gradually clearing country lias made the larger dog a 

 necessity, as to cross the wide open country, requires a dog large 

 enough to have a galloping stride, which the short coupled small 

 dog cannot have. He must also have nose and carrying sense, as 

 the distance covered by an old dog fox, ten or fifteen miles 

 straight away, will leave a hound, lacking either, far behind. 



The Maryland foxliound of to-day fully upholds his ancient 

 and honorable reputation. 



THE SUGAR LOAF FOXHOUND. 

 By H. E. C. Bryant, Charlotte, N. C. 



Mr. Joe Plummer, who developed the Sugar Loaf foxhounds, 

 of Western Maryland, was one of the most eccentric Irishmen 

 that ever lived, but a well-to-do farmer, a capable grist mill man 

 and a successful hunter. His dogs were bred and trained to his 

 own peculiar notions; he would not give or sell to any one, 

 friend or stranger, an open bitch, or a serviceable dog, but kept 

 the stock within his own kennels and for his private use. The 

 Sugar Loaf dog is not included in what is termed "The Mary- 

 land Hound," although Mr. Plummer was a contemporary of 

 Messrs. Nimrod Gosnell, Napoleon Welch, John T. Hardey and 

 Washington Linthicum, who bred that noted strain. Mr. 

 Plummer belonged to the same school of hunters but was a little 

 selfish, and indifferent about crossing or running his dogs with 

 those of his neighbors. Most of his hunting was done on the 

 Sugar Loaf mountains, along Sugar Loaf creek, near his home, 

 with his own pack. 



Some time ago I visited the kennels of Messrs. George J. 

 Garrett and Henry M. Griff ee, near Baltimore, and saw a Sugar 

 Loaf -July cross that pleased me. I was interested in the half- 

 and-half Sugar Loaf and July for I had found the latter breed to 

 be very fine but rather delicate. The July has the keen nose, 

 the speed and the stamina, but seems to lack tough, healthy 

 fibre. Mr. Garrett, who is a good breeder, a good liunter and a 

 close observer, claims that the Sugar Loaf gives to the July just 

 what is needed to make the ideal foxliound. 



I have never seen a more attractive lot of hounds than the 

 ones I saw at the home of Mr. Griffee and at the country place 

 of Mr. Garrett; they were handsome, muscular, well-conditioned 



