236 



Government could be persuaded to undertake to buy all the horses and 

 mules, of the description size and class they require, at 4 years old, say 

 for £30 each, then there might be some inducement and hope of our 

 doing all that Sir Alfred Jones would like to see in this direction. 



Mares for mule breeding of the type of those used for livery, buss 

 and car purposes (unsuited on account of some small blemishes) would 

 be very useful here, where I suppose we have some of the best proof 

 asses to be found anywhere. 



Generally. It is quite possible for us to produce from our present 

 stocks of mares and donkeys a mule of 14 or 15 hands at 4 years old. 

 We have frequent enquiry and often effect sales at £30 each, but few 

 of the breeders are in a position just now to wait till then. 



"With regard to horses they require more feeding from yearlings than 

 the breeders can afford to give them with the uncertainty of a sale, but if 

 a sale is guaranteed the extra expense will be incurred which is essential 

 with increased importations. 



J. T. Palache, Esq. : I have already partially answered this in reply 

 to Reference II. but I would add that another point of mule breeding 

 is the importation of some good she asses as well as proof asses for 

 breeding; an improved ass in Jamaica and the encouragement by 

 premiums of pony stallions that will cover Jennies and breed Mule 

 Royals. 



These Mule Royals are larger, more docile and in all respects better 

 than the ordinary mule, and the saving in breeding is considerable as 

 the price of one mule mare equals thai of three or four Jennies and the 

 keep of a Jenny one fourth that of the mare. 



I desire to add a few suggestions not covered by the references but 

 embraced in the subject generally. It is absolutely necessary to 

 encourage racing so as to promote horse breeding. 



In former days racing was encouraged by the Government and horse 

 breeding flourished. In the early part of the last century at Pepper and 

 Goshen larger breeding establishments existed than have ever existed 

 in England even at the present day. As the encouragement for racing 

 was withdrawn so horse breeding fell off until to-day it is almost nil. 



It is racing and nothing else that has built up the British thorough- 

 bred 10 what it is to-day, viz. : The standard from which all other parts 

 of the world obtain their stud animals for improving their respective 

 breeds. "What Great Britain is to the world to-day, Jamaica was at one 

 time to the rest of the West Indies, Mexico, Central and South 

 America ; and this position can be restored if only all those interested 

 would join heart and hands for the purpose. 



For centuries racing has been supported in England by grants from 

 the Hevenue for King's or Queen's plates. 



But when races by means of companies and gate-money meetings 

 were instituted, that attracted all the best horses, and left the Queen's 

 plate to be competed for by inferior horses. Queen's plates were 

 abolished.. The money however was not withch-awn from the original 

 object of encouraging horse-breeding, but was continued in premiums 



