No. 7. DEPARTMENT 0¥ AGRICULTURE. 155 



an average valuation of $132.00, and total value of |S1,708,000 ; also 

 43,000 mules at |145.00 each, worth $6,235,000. Of this gi-eat num- 

 ber of horses and mules, a large percentage are bred outside of 

 the State and brought here, either as weanlings, j'earlings, or at a 

 more mature age. It is a practice of some of our best agricultural 

 counties for farmers to buy weanlings and yearlings which are 

 brought in in car lots by dealers who furnish no pedigrees and prob- 

 ably do not know either the sire or dam of the animals they are selling. 

 Buying such colts is a very poor policy because their breeders, who 

 are familiar with the parentage evidently do not care to raise such 

 horses, as they have a good idea what the finished product will be. 

 The farmer who buys such a colt does not know whether the sire is 

 a ton Percheron or a cross roads scrub, and whether the colt will 

 develop into a drafter-, or turn out a nondescript; but he must in 

 the great majority of cases be satisfied with the latter type. Good 

 mares used for farm work and bred every year to suitable stallions, 

 would in a few years cause their owners to reap a considerable 

 profit from the sale of young horses which could be raised at no 

 great trouble or expense. 



As in the two preceding 3'ears, exhibits were made at various 

 county fairs. The collection of photographs which clearly illustrate 

 the various market types of horses as well as numerous cliarts show- 

 ing the relative proportion of grade and pure bred stallions, com- 

 parative representation of breeds, the number of pure breds stand- 

 ing in each county, and relative increase of pure breds over grades, 

 were exhibited. This exhibit was always placed prominently in 

 space which was gratuitously offered by the various associations. 

 A supply of all literature published by the Board pertaining to 

 the horse industry was made available for all who cared for it, and 

 a representative of the Board was present to discuss horse breeding 

 topics. In this way many owners were informed concerning the 

 stallions in their localities and inclined in the direction of breeding. 



At the annual meeting of the State Breeders Association in Phil- 

 adelphia, a demonstration of market types of horses, using as sub- 

 jects typical representatives of the various classes, kindly loaned 

 for the occasion by the owners, was given. An exceptionally good 

 exhibit of Percheron and French Coach stallions, the property of 

 McLaughlin Bros., of Columbus, Ohio was in the building during 

 the entire meeting and was greatly appreciated. Discussions of 

 the horse industry as well as demonstrations at Farmer's institutes 

 and county fairs for the purpose of giving the farmers a better idea 

 of proper selection in the breeding of horses were carried on as 

 a part of the educational work which has been found most essentia] 

 throughout the State, especially in the eastern section. 



Much confusion has been caused stallion owners and buyers by 

 alleged irregular practices of authorized pedigree registry associa- 

 tions, and the activities of others which have no government recog- 

 nition. 



Total number of licenses issued during 1910 was 2,385, as com- 

 pared with a total of 2,254 for 1909, a gain of 131 or 5.3 per cent. 

 The number of pure bred licenses issued in 1910 was 908, against 

 825 for 1909, a gain of 85 or 10.3 per cent. There were 1,474 grade 

 licenses issued as compared with 1,427 during 1909, an increase 

 of 47 or less than 3.3 per cent. Three cross bred licenses were issuecj 

 against 4 in 1909. 



