The New York herald., 1869-03-28
ryiSal or 8 few Of his joetings. twas sn afternoon
repleta with Dl0agufo And inc6d0nEs

rusal Of few Of MS jcttlngs. Nvas a aftsrnoon
rsplsts with pleasure and incidenG
| TIE HOns OF THH "HnATB&Q0D."
Ths gameoocK's home, the Heath 110ds, {" castle.
Y quite an imposing structure. not un1t for human
habitation, situated on rising ground contiguous
fourth Of mile from the centre Of the village or East
| speaking alike the intelligence and magnanimity
Of its owners who sol It apart for tho object aonc Of
moved from the busy haunts OF mankind that there
s safety IN It's isolation Here live the game Hcath
wood' Where they are trained and Conditioned e 10 70
pit. in which they have achieved many signal victo
fiss or, constant 70 the last, died dead game'
| lighting, as their fathers did before them.
l The spacious house was found closed, a. the Tight
ing season Of 1859 IL over and the lordy birds were
been turned out on carefully selected walks. where,
with chosen wives OF high lineage they will remain
| until the season Of 1870 Is ushercd in
ON THE LOOKOUT.
Feeling assured that the breeders Of these game
chickens could be heard from at the genial h0sterIc OF
school, the raging storm was brayed. and his place
In the village hard by visited when, fortunately ne
sw6y. bless me- my boy, what brought you herer'
qu0th Sim, his face clear a. chronometer's dial,
looking up. Explanations were hurriedly made.
We had come to talk 'gamec0ck;n we wanted to
know more Of the feathered gamesper, particularly
OF the "Heathwoodn strain. brought to such per-
| from the gentlemen who had achieved the signal
triumph Of producing birds a. fine a. ever 'napped
.Ycu have hit the right place; but both Billy
Reid and Sammy Mitchell, The gentlemen who have
accomplished that by their great attention and
dinners; they viii soon RETURN when wlli use my
little influence with them that they may be induced
THIS was unexpected good fortune and II was ses
down as an absolute certainty that the M usual ret-
msnJ not be binding. And 1t was not
A GLANCE AT THE PAST.
While We were thus patiently waiting for the re-
time pass merrily away in the descriptions OF the oil
paintings OF celebrated horses ne has owned and OF
souvenirs and curiosities that cause his place 70
seem more like museum for the equine race than
publican's home. Yes it is q museum OF the horse
and who has not associated ''Bg Sim" with the trot
ters and racers OF American His integrity none
ever questioned, ana his judgment has made his
And then, with the elemepts cutting capers and
kicking in harness, the prototype Of March day N
this latitude this veteran OF all legitimate sports
picture to observe hlmone not easily effaced from
the mind. s'There," said he, ais the picture Of old
Blondes there's Lady Blanche the first colt Of Old Alb
dallah, father OF Hamilt0niani she was raised ~
IN her
mother OF Prvateer and that's her leg over the pic
ture,tis all that's left OF her; and there's the pic
ture Of the great trot the Union track between
Gray Eddy and True John, IN 1864, when, with 400
pounds weight fast time for those days, was madeD
OF prominent horses-Abdalah (his tail preserved
hanging near IT.; Hamtltonian standing In front Of
the photographs Of his pleasant companions Of long
ago, such as Hiram woodruff VIM. r. Johnson, the
Southern States .Nspoecn 9th Of the Turf Paier, and
muxzle," % Mt Hoagland just as the door opened and
looking gentlemen, concluded his remembrances Of
the past with half sigh but yet with smile lin
to sit here and look at these things and think over
the transactions Of life, a. then knew both OF these
gentlemen you want to see.
WILLIAM II. REID AND SAMUEL MITCHELL,
the breeders OF the famous Heathw0Od strain Of
gamecocks. Let me introduce you"
moments revision OF the many points information
was requested upon the following valuable KNOW
Tc old school cock lighters ana breeders Of the land
imagine the scene. Sammy Mitchell, seventy years
Of age hearty and the picture Of good health yet
Reid OF age somewhere about the centre, or little
more so OF the span OF mans existence, three score
was characteristic Of an age gone by, when simp
city, wealth and prmitiveness were the principal
attributes OF the then excellent living men.
THE OBJECT OF THESE BREEDEKs.
The object OF Messrs. Reid Mitchell In the
breeding OF the AHeathwoodn strain OF gamecocks
not matter OF pecuniary return, as neither OF
them ever received a dollar for their labor and
trouble THIS may seem sSs nut
gamecock could be bred, being primarily
Eirst-Large size.
Second-Symmetry OF form.
ThId-Fecundity Of hens.
F0uth-Brillancy OF pIumage.
FiHh--Favor as q table fowl.
Strth-Economy as regards food.
Secenth-With all the other qualities that delight
To this and to this extent alone have these gentle
men devoted their leisure moments and methOdical
selection, and when the work was commenced there
is not the least doubt that they each thought OF the
old nursery rhyme:-
III were eobblsr I'd make my pride
III tinker no tinker beside
Should mend old kettle like
Their energy met oil dfculties; It was the pcrsc
verance which resolutely overcomes them
BREEDING AND FEEDING.
In breeding and feeding gamecocks for objects
enumerated as above and Their preparation for ap-
pearance IN the pit let IT be- starting point 10
procure in the birds the greaest amount Of muscle
ways q n @ %na s p
servaton OF muscle and the decrease OF fat the
first steps to success as feeder There should be
when he IS In trim tnan on racehorse, as It acts
just injurlously in the IN the other.
The next great essentials air. food and exercise.
When o bird first leaves the walk where he has
been running master, take him In hand and ascor.
Of the gizzard for the superiuons nesh on hm note
| this particularly as IL win govern your future
treatment In the poultry trade, when good
condition Is desired as killing quality, nesh
would be sought alter under the wing, and not as
above. Then ascertain the state OF his stomach II
| Immediately, nrst bread and water, followed by o
pill OF cream Of tartar, and then bread, with
milk which soothes the bowels until the purgative
| Is overcome. When he Is little costive give him
little raw meat and he IL too quick In getting into
condition administer soass ana ale In small quaint.
largest. II Ia the practice among the 'Heathwoodr
gentlemen.
There is better food for the game bird IN this
training process than hard dry, old cracked corn.
II better TO sift It and let be mixed OCCASION
ally with little barley. do not use new An
Qat meal cake at times, when the bird Is making too
| much flesh, mixed with barley Ii very good and to
| be advised. Coarse baked cakes are to be recon-
mended In preference to complicated messes.
the birds are very hungry at times during their
preparation for the pit the cracked corn and oat
meal can be given, while boiled egg, chopped nne
| may also be gwen This win satisfy hunger NJ
easily diRested and win not add to the ncsh q the
egg has little or no nutrition. Do not give tho
birds any second food while the first II undergoing
digestion. Always note this carefully.
An excellent cake for the gamccock can be made
OF eggs, sago, sugar, mama, wheat hour and milk
'strppingA" IL will be found very stimulating and
when given to the bird u must not exceed two days
before the trial with his opponent as It's esh-nakng
qualities are very great and the object giving
IL like that OF stlmulant TO racehorse pngi-
list few minutes before the grand trial takes place.
As drink during this sitting process for the pit at
times the yOlk beaten Wnfpr