STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 218 



the descendant of the Spanish horse originally introduced into Mex- 

 ico during the time of the Montezunias. Asa vaciuero or cattle horse, 

 he has no equal. Of great intelligence, supple as a cat, and with the 

 tenacity of a bull dog, lie ably seconds the efforts of the rider, and 

 never fails to run down the liercest bullock of the band. At rodeo he 

 is omnipresent, flying hither and tliithcr, now in full career after 

 a maddened steer, anon, like a statue, his mouth, sensitive to the 

 slightest touch, having given the warning that the lasso has been 

 thrown and he is to perform his ])art, that of holding the lariat taut 

 until the infuriated animal can be properly secured. Americans were 

 prompt to see the value of this useful animal, and their efforts have 

 been directed to increasing the size without destroying the peculiar 

 characteristics of the breed. This has been accomplished by coupling 

 the thoroughbred with approved mustang mares, producing a race of 

 animals unequaled in the world for the purpose for which they are 

 intended. Another use for them has been the selecting those with 

 trotting gait and breaking them to harness for stage purposes. With 

 six and even four of these animals and convenient relays, most won- 

 derful feats of staging were performed in the early days of this State. 

 The usefulness of the California mustang is universally recognized. 

 But the rapid settlement of the State required other breeds of the 

 horse. Its pastoral nature to a great extent disappeared, and the 

 wants of agriculture and commerce, as well as the requirements of a 

 higher type of civilization, demanded the most improved strains and 

 those best adapted for these various purposes. All sections of the 

 world were drawn upon. The Clydesdale, Percheron, Norman, Eng- 

 lish Shire, and other breeds of draught animals were largelj^ imported 

 and judiciously crossed, in most instances with beneficial results. 

 Extensive importations were made of the American trotting horse, a 

 distinctive^breed of animals, exclusively intended for road purposes 

 and light liarness service. Expenditures extending into the millions 

 have been made in the endeavor to improve and perfect this wonder- 

 ful breed with entire success. The desideratum of the American 

 trotting horse is speed combined with pure gait, fine form, and perfect 

 action. California has the proud honor of leading in this important 

 class, its young horses holding the first rank in these essential partic- 

 ulars. The thoroughbred also has not been neglected, and vast sums 

 have been paid for the highest type of the English thoroughbred and 

 his immediate descendants, with the laudable purpose of excelling 

 in this particular sphere. The climate of California seems so pecu- 

 liarly favorable to the breeding and development of the equine race 

 that it has been not inappropriately named the "home of the horse." 



SHEEP. 



California is essentially a sheep country. Its wild, rugged nature 

 renders a large portion of it worthless for cultivation. Not only this, 

 but its precipitous canons, and gulches, and sparse vegetation upon 

 mountain sides, renders such land valueless as cattle pasture. Upon 

 such ground sheep may be profitably kept, but only certain descrip- 

 tions — the Merinos. Properly speaking, it should be said the Span- 

 ish Merino.. This animal seems created for California; good for 

 wool, good for mutton, a fine lierder; it has all the qualities to com- 

 mend it. The French Merino partakes of these good qualities to a 

 limited extent, and a cross of the two has proved successful; but the 



