Annual Meeting 1089 



success. We hear much about the doctrine, " like begets like," 

 which has beeu given the stamp of approval by naturalists of the 

 highest order; but, as freaks and monstrosities have proven, from 

 time to time, it is also true that nature has a will of her own when 

 she wishes to exercise it. It is undeniably true that like begets like, 

 when we have established a breed and type and continued to breed 

 within the range of established blood-lines. But it is not in 

 accordance with the spirit of progress that we should make no 

 departures from this fixed order of conduct, which applies to 

 the breeding of horses with the same farce as to every other line 

 of effort in the march of development. It is a paradox, too, to 

 say that like begets like when we realize that the largest horses 

 of the present time have been bred up in size by natural selec- 

 tion, care and feeding, and through the process termed by Herbert 

 Spencer " survival of the fittest," from ponies of the smallest 

 stature — without taking note of pre-historic evolution. 



It would be an easy matter to settle the question as to what is 

 the best type of horse for the farmer to breed if any one of the 

 pure-bred types could be pointed to as fulfilling all the require- 

 ments of the farm and meeting all the opportunities for profit in 

 the market. This, we all know, is far from the mark. How then 

 are we to reach some composite animal that will meet the com- 

 prehensive exigencies of the day? 



It is conceded that each of the various draft breeds is a good 

 horse for the farmer to breed, not only for use on his own farm 

 but for achieving a lucrative market. The different types of 

 heavy horse may appeal to the individual farmer according to 

 their characteristics, such as size, weight, color, hardihood and 

 adaptability to the work that he may require. I take it, however, 

 that as the draft horse for the farmer is well known to be a 

 profitable horse to breed, there is another phase of the subject 

 to be treated, else there would be no question asked ; and this 

 phrase we must view with consideration for our pockets, not only 

 at the present moment but also with a view to the future. 



In my opinion, although I may be seriously doubted, the auto- 

 mobile, as already stated, will eventually make more serious in- 

 roads upon the heavy draft horse than it lias made upon the horses 

 used for pleasure, general utility, sport and war. There will 

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