239 



three guineas each for four or five ; and two guineas each up to 

 ten, etc. 



The breeding of Polo Ponies and all other fancy fads is not the duty 

 of the Government to promote, these should always be left to work out 

 their own salvation. 



E-. A. "Walcott, Esq. : It is desirable to have larger stock for 

 breeding draft mules ; but if our ordinary stock were properly and 

 regularly fed when young they would be large enough, and could not 

 be improved upon. 



C. L. Walker Esq. : By importing large stallions and mares and 

 large proof asses the natural result will be large mules. 



Hon. William Watson : If the suggestions are carried out 

 of importing largely of upsize stallions, with plent}^ of bone, there 

 would be a wonderful improvement in our mares, then with a number 

 of imported jacks, standing 14 or 15 hands, we could get a good type 

 of mule. 



It may be a little outside of this question, but it is highly desii'able 

 that some means be arrived at, whereby no one be allowed to keep or 

 use as astud any under-sized or runted creature. Let it be prohibitory 

 to keep any horse, under 14 hands, to use him for breeding purposes. 

 This will probably do more to improve the breed than anything else. 



J. R. Williams, Esq. : The breeding of mares suitable for producing 

 larger and stronger mules ought not I think to be styled a 'secondary' 

 advantage. Consideririg the importance of mules in our agricultural 

 development, it is of primary importance, putting aside the possibility 

 of an export trade in horses, more important than the breeding of 

 horses. And the majority of Pens which breed a limited number of 

 horsekind have chiefly in view filly colts out of which t^ey may sup- 

 ply mule-mares. It is not a very good plan, for the mares put to' 

 the horse are mostly those which refuse to breed readily for the ass, 

 and these are likely to transmit the same disqualification to their issue 

 But mule-breeding is of primar}' importHUce. 



I think we would improve the standard of mule-mares by imparting 

 stallions of the typs of which I have suggested my approval, and by 

 using the-e imported stallions or local stallions subsidized in the way 

 I have indicated. 



But what we speciall}^ need is a better type of stud ass, attainable 

 for something less, a good deal less, than from £70 to £100. And 

 something might be done under Government subsidy in this direction, 

 b}' importing large and good asses, half a dozen or so, t > serve jennies 

 onl}' at approved centres. For the first few years 6 or 8 months at one 

 centre would be sufiicient. If we have a Stock Farm then it should 

 certainly be one of iis enterprises to breed and sell large thoroughbred 

 asses. In consequence of the reluctance of the owners of the best siud 

 asses to serve jennies — for good and sufficient reasons — and the con- 

 sequent scarcity of really good Jacks, the breeding of mules in Jamaica 

 seems to me to be in rather worse case than horse-breeding, and to 

 claim quite as urgently as the improvement of horsekind, if not more 

 urgently, the attention of the authorities. 



