208 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The tendency is to make rapid gi-owtli on moderate rations, and 

 grade colts two years old should weigh one thousand pounds or more. 

 Selecting well formed, sound, healthy mares of medium size, and 

 using ahcays a pure bred sire, colts may be grown, without forcing, 

 to even a heavier weight than has been indicated. These are in 

 demand, and will be so long as quality is maintained. 



Where one stops to consider that the State of Maine pays 

 annually over half a million dollars for this class of stock, there 

 surel}' need be no fear as to the market. The average price paid is 

 now from $350 to $450, per pair for three-year-olds and over. 

 The superior quality of Maine bred stock is admitted and this 

 insures a ready sale at a higher price than is paid for western 

 colts, which, being corn fed, have not the muscular development 

 of the home bred, and will not be able to perform full labor for at 

 least two years after the}' are brought into the State. 



The demands should be met by home production. In supplying 

 Ibis call the farmers of Maine may find a market for their ha}-, 

 grain and roots where more can be realized than by shipping the 

 raw products of the farms. 



Not only from the towns and cities, the lumberman's camps and 

 the quarries, but from the farms and villages the call is for horses 

 of size, substance aud good dispositions, suitable for driving or 

 working. The incoming tide spreads over the entire State, and the 

 promise for the future is rich if in breeding the best is sought. A 

 good per cent, of those brought in are far below the average of 

 eastern bred stock. 



The possibilities of the future are in the hands of the breeders. 

 If while holding firmly to present standards they strive to improve 

 in all true essentials, the Percheron of to-morrow will be better than 

 he is to-day. B}- the same steps which have led to present excel- 

 lence must the work be carried forward, and in doing this the 

 Percheron will come to be recognized as the all purpose horse of 

 the people. 



