§g ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



V. The tveo Methods, "In-and-in" and "Cross" Breeding Considered. 



As for the two leading methods of breeding, circumstances generally 

 determine which the farmer or other breeder on a moderate scale is to 

 adopt. He is now almost always under the absolute necessity of cross- 

 ino- ; and the main point with him is, Itoic to cross, in order to secure the 

 best results. The main directions are already laid down, with sufficient 

 minuteness to enable anyone of ordinary intelligence to judge as to the 

 best means. One point must not be overlooked, that really to improve 

 the stock of horses as to blood — to obtain a strain that has the power of 

 transmitting itself, and of so continuing in a steady line of improvement, 

 recourse must be had to pure blooded horses. The English racer or 

 thoroughbred is almost our sole reliance in this respect ; although an 

 Arab may occasionally be found. The true Norman Percheron is 

 endowed with this characteristic of pure-blooded horses — he has great, 

 power? of impressing himself upon his offspring, and perpetuating the 

 strain ; but he is too heavy for the ordinary run of mares in this country j 

 and if heavy draft stock rather than the lighter horse of all w^ork is 

 wanted, the Percheron mare should also be used — -or some other of equal 

 lenolli and weight. Good mares of the common mixed breeds in the 

 United States, bred to the light Arab, Barb, or thorough-bred stallions, 

 will almost invariably produce foals partaking of their own size and 

 strength, and of the finer forms, activity, and wind of the stalhon. It is 

 difficult to lay down any specific rule for crossing. The whole matter 

 must be left to the good sense of the breeder, after the general state- 

 ment of principles previously set forth- If the breeder has in view a 

 mere racer, and is unable to obtain both thorough-bred mare and stallion, 

 let hinx seek the racing stallion, at least, and one that will, as previously 

 directed, supplement his mare — supply the points in which she i'- want- 

 ino- for that specific purpose. If he -wishes a trotter, the same ca»e must 

 be observed. As trotting horses are of late days in great demand in the 

 United States, we insert here a cut of one of the most celebrated of the 

 Old World trotters, the "Marshland Shales," a horse foaled m 1802, 

 and which was known to old age as the very best m the British Isles. 

 A careful study of his conformation, will be of advantage to those who 

 seek to learn the peculiar points of a horse of knoAvn excellence. H© 

 was a half-bred ; and the impression long prevailed among the sporting 

 men of England, (if it is even yet extinct), that no pure thorough-bred 

 nor Arabian could excel as a trotter. 



Now, let the reader compare him with "Dervish," and note the point* 

 of difference. *'Der\nsh" was a little bay Arab, exceedingly fine, and 

 remarkable for a darting or straight trot — throwing out his fore-leg and 



