No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 617 



ribbons and cash prizes but as setting forth the most desirable 

 types for the benefit and edification of the breeding community. 

 A comprehensive classification of entries followed by consistent 

 and accurate awards based on that classification, will do much to 

 raise the standard of the livestock produced in the community. 

 Not until we have higher ideals and a more liberal view of the 

 breeding business is taken can we expect many horses of approved 

 type and breeding, to be offered to our breeders. Some men have 

 objected to superior stallions being brought to this State until 

 we have on our farms a class of mares better adapted to give most 

 satisfactory results in mating with these horses. However much 

 we appreciate the importance of the dam in determining improve- 

 ment, we must admit that improvement in a far greater number of 

 individuals will follow the use of a superior sire than when the 

 dams only are of improved character. Grading up is the best means 

 of improving our farm mares and the most important factor in 

 the grading up process is the pure bred stallion of superior type, 

 conformation and breeding. It is for this reason that the first 

 step to encourage horse breeding in Pennsylvania has been directed 

 to the stallion, by regulating the services to be offered to the breed- 

 ing public. 



We have just reason to feel proud of the achievement of our 

 American breeders, but we must admit that most systematic im- 

 provement in the production of horses is to be noted in Great Brit- 

 ain, France, Germany and Belgium. In all of these countries the 

 work is more or less under Government control and patronage and 

 the methods involved pretain, first of all, to the regulation of stal- 

 lion services. This system is most complete and effective in France 

 where all horse breeding is under direction of the Director Gen- 

 eral and all horses whose services are offered to the public have 

 passed a system of government inspection. They are first certified 

 free from roaring and periodic ophthalmia or moon blindness, which 

 are the two conditions constituting hereditary unsoundness in 

 France. After being certified sound by the veterinarian, the brand- 

 ed star on the neck being the stamp of such certification, they are 

 turned over to the inspectors who classify them according to merit. 

 First of all it should be remembered that a large number of the 

 stallions used for breeding purposes in France are in Government 

 studs. Of these owned by private individuals three classes are made 

 by the Government officials. The first class designated "approved," 

 and represents one of the most superior type and breeding, the 

 patronage of which is especially commended, in fact, the owners 

 of these stallions are paid an annual subsidy by the government 

 making it possible for them to stand at such a fee as to place their 

 services within reach of most breeders. The second class consists 

 of those stallions which are not quite up to the standard of "ap- 

 proved," but which are nevertheless useful breeding horses. These 

 receive no subsidies but have the authority of the government 

 to stand for public service and therefore are termed "authorized." 

 In the third class are those horses of no especial merit but which 

 are allowed to remain in the breeding ranks on account of the fact 

 that they have been certified to be sound. This class is therefore 

 designated "certified." Any stallion which is neither owned by 



40 



