250 The Sporting Dog 



dam are both winners of vigorous character. Yet, 

 against Mr. Askins's convincing illustrations, one 

 may remember the experiment of Mr. Hulman of 

 Indiana and Captain O'Bannon of Virginia, who 

 organized the famous Blue Ridge Kennel, with 

 Rose as trainer. At one time these gentlemen 

 had almost a monopoly of the great setters of the 

 country, including Gath's Mark, Gath's Hope, 

 Antonio, and Dan Gladstone, together with such 

 matrons as Fannie Murnan, Lily Burges, Gossip, 

 and Laundress. This kennel was by no means 

 a failure, and the experiments produced many 

 winners; but it sadly disappointed its projectors. 

 They expected to turn out phenomena. The 

 blood which they produced is still valuable in field 

 dog kennels. A similar experience befell the 

 Manchester Kennel, at the head of which was 

 that unrivalled bird finder. Gleam's Sport. 



When considered impartially, the breeding of 

 field dogs has been a story of real success. There 

 are not so many failures as the pessimists think, 

 and the steady progress has been upward. The 

 average has been remarkably good. It must be 

 remembered in all breeding that the winners are 

 comparatively few. No matter how good the 

 breeding theory and practice, the dogs which 

 stand out as superior to all other dogs must al- 

 ways be the exceptions. That proposition proves 

 itself, but is not always believed. 



