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■with tlie hand should cull out the largest every year, all things will 

 hasten to decay, and gliding away insensibly, be driven backward, like 

 one who rows his boat against the stream, and if by chance he slackens 

 his arms, it is instantly gone, and the tide hurries him headlong down 

 the river." This was the experience of man more than eighteen hun- 

 dred years since, and is confirmed down to the present time. Without 

 constant care and judicious selection of seed and animals, the farmer 

 must, like Virgil's rower against the tide, be quickly swept away. 



In a national point of view, the horse, in its rearing, breaking, and 

 management, is well worthy the attention of the agriculturist. A large 

 portion of the troops engaged in the protection of our widely extended 

 frontier, are mounted men. High prices are paid for horses suitable for 

 the purpose ; thousands are used in transporting munitions of war, pro- 

 visions, &c. The demand is increasing, and will, in all probability, con- 

 tinue to do so for years. To men embarking in any undertaking, the 

 experience of practical men is of some benefit, if only to confirm and 

 strengthen a correctly formed theory ; and might be of benefit where a 

 man had no experience, but was willing to take that of others for his 

 guide, when it appeared reasonable. In no occupation does a man 

 require more of that knowledge which comes from the experience of 

 others, than in the breeding of animals ; and in this, the observation 

 and experience of others may be made available in the outset. 



The first consideration is, what kind of a horse will pay best for his 

 rearing, breaking, &c.? Rail Roads and other improvements in locomo- 

 tion, steam power, &c., have given mankind at the present age a mania 

 for fast conveyance, whether on land or water, and slow horses will no 

 longer answer the expectations of purchasers of horse flesh ; they want 

 a good one to go. Those who are not particular about speed, never object 

 to a horse if he happens to have it. The fast horse is the horse for the 

 American farmer to raise with profit. All nature presents to us the fact 

 that like begets like, and when this rule is varied, it is an exception. In 

 the breeding of horses, this law is strictly carried out. In almost every 

 instance, celebrated trotting horses have sprung from fast stock on both 

 sides. Trustee, the only horse who ever trotted twenty miles in an hour, 

 was from a trotting mare, Fanny Pullen, and by imported Trustee, a fast 

 race-horse, who was also the sire of that fast mare, Fashion. Black 

 Hawk was sired by Andrew Jackson, who was also the sire of a great 

 number of trotting horses, Black Hawk trotted a mile in 2 m. 40 s. 



