THE PERCHERON HORSE. 205 



and purchasers of breeding stock are obliged to go out of the State 

 for pure bred sires. 



If the business is to be continued, breeders should turn their 

 attention to producing the stallions necessary' for breeding purposes, 

 and to secure these, the introduction of pure bred mares should be 

 made. If the older sections of the State lack the abundant pastures 

 of Aroostook and the Provinces, there can still be no doubt but the 

 class might be multiplied throughout our borders, many times, with 

 profit to the farmers and breeders. The great danger is that iu the 

 use of so many grade stallions the standard will be lowered and the 

 industry injured. The fact that one dealer brings into the State 

 over one thousand draft and larger driving horses yearly should 

 silence all fears as to the practicability of an industry here which 

 would supply this want, and that, too, with stock far superior to 

 what is now received. 



It ma^- be seriously questioned whether we are by climate and 

 other local conditions adapted to the producing of the extremely 

 heavy weights of the West, but there is a middle ground on which 

 we may stand. There is a middle class which could be made of 

 gieat value to the State. 



One special advantage iu growing Percheroos is the freedom from 

 liability to accidents' because of the docility of the colts. But verv 

 little trouble is experienced in weaning, and by reason of their more 

 quiet dispositions, as compared with the thoroughbred or the highly 

 bred trotter, they run together like sheep in a flock. We have seen 

 on the farms of New Brunswick six weanlings in a large pen with 

 an open door to a well protected paddock, where they could go and 

 come at pleasure. There they are fed on ha\' and roots, chiefly 

 turnips, and receive but little grain. Looking over a lot in February 

 that had been grown in this way, we were surprised at the growth 

 made and the fine condition of each. In France the feed is dr}- 

 clover and a thin mush of barley and bran mixed. This diet is con- 

 tinued until spring, when green fodder is substituted gradually until 

 ready to turn into the clover fields and pastures. 



Surely there is no other breed of horses possessing the powers of 

 endurance of the Turk or Barb, and the earlj' cross with the hard}' 

 Brittany mares, long noted for road qualities, produced the Percher- 

 ons in all their excellence. Systematically bred for centuries they 

 have come to be strong in t3'pe, and this is made apparent when 

 pure blooded sires are used on our ordinary mares. There is a great 



