228 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



blood and of fine appearance. We noticed but two stud horses 

 on the ground : altliougli tliey possessed some marks of excel- 

 lence, yet, in the estimation of the examining committee, they 

 did not come up to that high mark wliich would entitle them 

 to the society's premium. Of breeding mares with colts there 

 was quite a number on exhibition ; and in the estimation of the 

 same committee, there was but one of such a character as to be 

 entitled to a prcmiiim. 



If, then, the view of the said committee be correct, that no 

 animals but the very best are entitled to a premium, and that 

 no person should be encouraged in raising any but the best 

 stock, we would call the attention of farmers to the fact, and 

 recommend that in selecting stock animals, none should be used 

 for that purpose but the very best. Too much care cannot be 

 taken in selecting the best blood, the best constitution, and 

 those, too, possessing the greatest points of excellence. It has 

 been too much the practice to breed from old broken-down 

 mares, which are almost worthless for any other purpose, and 

 much more so for the purpose of breeding ; thereby producing 

 an inferior colt, that will hardly pay for raising, and be of little 

 value when raised. While, on the other hand, if care is taken 

 in selecting and breeding from the best animals, 'of young, 

 healthy, and vigorous constitutions, a noble race of horses may 

 be produced, that will not only pay the expense of raising, but 

 will be a source of profit as well as pleasure to the owners. 



Among the different breeds of horses there are none that stand 

 so high in New England as the Morgan and Black Hawk. The 

 excellent qualities of those breeds are so well known and valued 

 in this section of the country, that many horses are offered as 

 Morgan or Black Hawk that have not a particle of those bloods 

 in their veins ; but the general appearance and character of 

 those bloods are so well known and understood, that a practised 

 eye will readily detect the deception. The iiigh price which 

 first class horses command, and tlie ready sale with which they 

 meet, makes the subject of raising good horses worthy the atten- 

 tion of farmers. No part of farming will better pay than the 

 raising of first class horses ; wliile the raising of poor or inferior 

 ones is always a losing business. The true principles of breed- 

 ing and raising stock of any kind we believe are too little 

 understood and too much neglected. It is a subject that re- 



