54 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Tucker, for committee on fourteenth Topic, reported as fol- 

 lows : 



"What breeds and classes of horses are most deserving attention 

 and encourao-ement in Maine, and what is the best mode of rearing 

 and training them?" 



Your committee do not expect in this brief report to meet the 

 views of the members of this board or of others that are engaged 

 in raising horses ; all have their favorite breeds. Neither does your 

 committee expect to be able to give you a particular description or 

 history of all the valuable breeds of horses that there are even in 

 New England. There is perhaps no animal on which there is more 

 difference of opinion than on the horse. The Morgan horse has 

 been reared with success and is a hardy animal ; his constitution is 

 adapted to our climate. The Morgan combines all that seems neces- 

 sary to make a good horse, being of medium size and powerful 

 action, good feeders, possessing docility of disposition and mature at 

 an early age. Your committee would here meet an objection often 

 made against the Morgans, that they lack in size. There would be 

 no difficulty in increasing the size of the Morgans, but when we 

 have increased their size shall we have the Morgan horse? What 

 we have gained in size we have lost in symmetry, compactness, ease 

 of motion and vigor. The question of size is of great importance 

 in breeding, aud one in regard to which breeders are very liable to 

 mistake. Committees and agricultural societies often encourage 

 erroneous opinions on the subject ; a large colt is likely to get a 

 premium, all are not critical judges, and under a load of fat, but 

 few are capable of pointing out the defects in the animal. Every 

 departure from the medium size of a race of animals is attended 

 with a loss of power and action, and a departure from the medium 

 size should not be permitted except for a special purpose. 



The Messenger horses have been reared quite extensively and 

 with great profit to many farmers in Maine, who have had the 

 pleasure of filling their pockets with the hard cash — the proceeds 

 of the sale of a fine Messenger. The Messengers do not mature as 

 young as the Morgans, being of much larger size, but when matur- 

 ed, they are capable of great endurance, and are usually of good 

 disposition. A great number of the Morgans and Messengers have 

 proved to be fast trotters. 



