96 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Off. Doc 



always been that the number of stallions was ample to meet breeders' 

 requirements, but that qualitative rather than quantative improve- 

 ment was what we needed, 



2. The steady and very material increase in the two leading draft 

 breeds with a corresponding reduction in the number of light stal- 

 lions is highly indicative of the fact that Pennsylvania farmers are 

 falling into line with tlie rank and file of American farmers who 

 have come to recognize the draft horse as the best proposition for 

 the average farm breeder. 



There is unmistakable evidence of the trend of the market in these 

 figures. Those breeders who exercised foresight and read these 

 signs in advance are in the best position to profit by horse raising 

 today. 



The relative popularity of the dilTereut breeders is not altogether 

 a matter of fad and fancy and the Pennsylvania breeder has very 

 markedly placed his stamj^ of approval on certain breeds. Per- 

 cherons have made a steady increase year by year and have more 

 than doubled in numbers, having led all breeds originally. Belgians, 

 while numerically less, have made an even greater proportionate gain, 

 increasing from 35 in 1908 to 124 in 1915. Standardbreds, second 

 to Percherons in the beginning, touched their mark of 293 in 1911 

 and have since gradually declined to 211 as against 209 in 1908. 

 Hackneys have just held their own until the past season, while 

 Thoroughbred and Saddlebred stallions have each shown a substan- 

 tial percentage, though, not numerical, increase. This is a good sign 

 in view of the present active demand for saddle horses. 



TABLE SHOWING NUMBER AND CLASSES OF LICENSES ISSUED IN 

 PENNSYLVANIA FROM 1908 TO 1915 INCLUSIVE. 



Year. 



1908, 

 1909. 

 1910, 

 1911, 

 1912, 

 1913, 

 1914, 

 1915, 



Registered. 



666 

 823 

 908 

 951 

 954 

 981 

 ,02» 



1,048 



Unreg- 

 istered. 



1,350 

 1,427 

 1,477 

 1,480 

 1,390 

 1,332 

 1,327 

 1,210 



Total 



Number 



Licensed. 



2.016 

 2,254 

 2,385 

 2,431 

 2,344 

 2,313 

 2,356 

 2.268 



