96 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tion of the world. Of great antiquity, — originating in the 

 East, — he spread over all Europe, and was finally brought to 

 this country, where he was originally unknown to most of the 

 aborigines. As we see him to-day, he is quite a different 

 animal from his original prototype. — a little scraggy, wiry, 

 unkempt creature, with scarcely a resemblance to the noble 

 specimens of the present day. By careful breeding and cul- 

 ture he has been evolved into an animal of rare symmetry 

 and beauty, of various breeds, each adapted to its respec- 

 tive use, — of work or pleasure. For our county the low-set, 

 compact, short-gaited horse, weighing nine hundred or ten 

 hundred pounds, is undoubtedly the best. Of the different 

 breeds the Morgan comes the nearest to this standard. Some 

 of the Canadian breeds are also excellent roadsters, easy 

 keepers, tough and durable, and good for all work. They are 

 far preferable, for our use, to the long-legged, slab-sided, raw- 

 boned Western horse, that will weigh twelve hundred, and 

 require half a bushel of grain a day to keep him alive. 



If the farmers of this county would take pains to procure 

 good breeding-stock, instead of worn-out, diseased animals, 

 they would reap their reward in realizing a progressive im- 

 provement, and the island might become famous for its breed 

 of horses. It costs no more to raise a horse that will readily 

 sell for two hundred dollars than one that it would be diffi- 

 cult to dispose of for fifty. 



The committee would suggest the propriety of offering a 

 premium for the best walking horses. A gentleman, the past 

 season, offered a hundred dollars premium for the fastest and 

 best walker ; but no competitors appeared. This would indi- 

 cate that the aim of trainers was all in the direction of speed 

 as trotters, without regard to utility or beauty. A strong, 

 fast walk is a quality in a horse not sufficiently appreci- 

 ated. 



For general work, and travelling on heavy, hilly roads, they 

 will make better time, and with more ease and comfort to 

 themselves, than one which would trot much faster on a 

 good road. An active, handsome, fast-walking horse that 

 can trot a mile in four minutes is a much more desirable 

 family horse than an ill-looking, gawky one that can go in 

 2.40. 



Wm. H. Luce, Chairman. 



