Annual Meeting 1077 



bred registered animals. Fourth, they sent all animals of a cer- 

 tain family to one locality — trotters here, thoroughbreds there, 

 Percherons yonder. Shires thither, etc., and allowed no other sort 

 of stallions in that locality : they castrated ail native and all grade 

 stallions ; they altered every male colt when he wsis weaned ; they 

 forbade the use of any stallions except those thus localized, all of 

 imported stock, registered as clean-bred in their respective stud- 

 books. What is the consequence ? To-day they are well on their 

 way in Japan to clean-bred stock, for already they have many in 

 the third generation — five returns to the original blood making 

 them clean-bred for all practical purposes of type, etc. Moreover, 

 if they need a certain kind t)f horse, they can simply go to the 

 locality or province where that sort are raised. 



There are 23,'000,0'00 horses in this country to-day, and it will 

 take a buyer from a week to two weeks to pick up a load of a sort 

 ■and at prices, that will satisfy the " main one " at home that he 

 is not a hopeless incompetent. Yet some 50 odd years ago the 

 Japanese were regarded as barbarians — while we have been 

 house-broken and educated these 300 years ! 



There should be a national law compelling every farmer to keep 

 nothing but mares on his farm ; to oblige him to sell all geldings 

 as 4-year-olds. Thus farmers might be induced to breed more 

 generally, and thus they would be encouraged to hasten maturity 

 in their products, feed for condition and easily finish and handle 

 and work lightly their youngsters at an early age. Your drafter 

 earns something on his keep at two, is saleable (and largely in 

 use in cities, etc.) at three; a dignified, finished horse at four; 

 a profitable investment at all times; a product that teaches a lot 

 by showing the benefits of liberal feeding and good care to every 

 kind of stock, and the hard cash equivalent for such liberality. 



The brood-mare is the only animal that will do your work, and 

 " work while you sleep," in nourishing the unborn, or the living 

 foal, or both, as well. You boast of the milk, butter, calves, from 

 your well-bred cows ; your sheep give you lambs and wool ; but 

 your mares will provide for all of them, in working and harvest- 

 ing crops; provide for herself in the same way; do likewise for 

 yourself and family; transport crops to market, family to town, 

 etc., yet nourish all the time an embyro, benefiting by the labor 



