COCKER S MANUAL. 25 



CROSSING OF THE GAME. 



There can be no doubt that crossing as practiced by the more ex- 

 perienced and cautious breeders is of real benefit as it hardens up the 

 feather, increases the size and gives us more bone and muscle, and 

 also helps lessen the amount of superfluous flesh, the last being one 

 great point for an old cocker as a less amount of work is required to 

 prepare him for pit fighting. The game fowl is unlike many others, 

 consequently the benefits of crossing can be realized in a single season, 

 the results of which can well be shown, perhaps in some of our fowls 

 in days gone by, but well remembered by many old fanciers and who 

 still speak with as much pride of their Claibornes, Heathwoods, Bal- 

 timores, etc., as our great horsemen do of their Longfellow, Bassett, 

 etc. Here the benefit of crosfing was shown in its full force, as no 

 fowl was ever produced that excelled them in an old cocker's e\e, as 

 determination and force in fighting could here be found. Many 

 think as they have two strains of games that is all that is needed to 

 make a cross, consequently their fowls in time show much worse than 

 their old ones. Nothing can be gained in crossing without regard to 

 form, size and general characteristics of your breeding stock. Expe- 

 rience of old and reliable fanciers everywhere have shown this, and all 

 breeders should seek to be as near perfect as possible. We believe it 

 cannot be disputed that old cockers have made the game what they 

 are, giving him his ferocious disposition, hardness of feather and per- 

 fect build, and it never could have been done without care and study 

 in breeding them. 



By crossing is meant the mixing of breeds, and if two Jowls of dif- 

 ferent breeds cross a third is invariably produced different from either 

 and partaking to a large extent of the qualities of both is frequently 

 and it may be invariably said better than either. The following arti- 

 cle upon this subject was written by Newmarket in the Journal of 

 Horticulture : 



"Some breeders assert that in crossing, color and form or shape are 

 derived chiefly from the cock, and that size, vigor and constitution: 

 come from the hen. I would not, however, "giye much for any brood 

 cock that did not impart all qualities to his progeny in excess of the 

 hen. ******* As to crossing and mixing the different 

 colors I think that Piles and Red Duns cross best of all, both being of 



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