LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 131 



fence. He soon decided there was no profit in raising thoroughbred stock, 

 and that a fortune could be lost much easier than it could be won following 

 this business. His reasoning was faulty, as he took Jiis — an individual instance 

 — as a basis, and reasoned from that to general conclusions on the business. 

 Having been unfortunate in buying — his animals being faulty — he judged 

 the business to be deceitful, visionary, and unprofitable. 



Having observed this and other similar cases, I conclude that a particular 

 talent is a pre-requisite to success in rearing pure bred stock; but, perhaps, 

 no more so than in the pursuit of many other kinds of business. That the 

 breeder should be 2^^'ogressive, never satisfied with present attainments, but 

 ever striving to improve himself and the quality of his stock; that he should 

 subscribe for and thoroughly read one or more of the papers especially devoted 

 to stock interests ; that he should have a personal pride in the merits of his 

 stock, but not to such a degree that he can see no beauty or valuable quality 

 in stock owned by others. He should learn to be critical, and be as willing to 

 criticize his own stock as his neighbors' stock ; though it is neither necessary 

 nor wise to criticise in a loud or offensive way. What I wish to convey is 

 simply this: he should be able to note the defects in his own stock, and to 

 see and admire the good qualities in his neighbors' animals. 



Stock breeders are generally hospitable and courteous ; they should strive to 

 be generous and charitable. Be willing to recognize merit and superior qual- 

 ity in all the different breeds of stock, as no one breed is best in all respects 

 or under all circumstances. 



In starting a herd of pure bred stock use care and thought in selecting ; buy 

 only of reputable breeders, — breeders of known character and integrity. No 

 man can afford to misrepresent in business dealings, and for the breeder of 

 thoroughbred stock to do so is to strike a death blow to his business. Still, 

 it has been practiced in the past and doubtless will be in the future. 



While a judicious buyer or breeder will not be governed solely by pedigree, 

 yet he will give due consideration to it, and when a good pedigree and a good 

 animal are combined satisfactory results may confidently be expected. While 

 all who engage in raising thoroughbred stock may not be successful, still I 

 am confident that to any one who has a taste for the business, and who will 

 give it the same personal attention, combined with energy and prudence, as is 

 given by any successful business man to his business, the breeding of thorough- 

 bred stock will prove a safe, satisfactory and profitable investment. 



THE IDEAL FAEM HORSE. 



BY PEOF. E. J. MAC EWAK. 



[Delivered at Eaton Rapids and Caro Institutes.] 



As an ally in agriculture, and as a beast of burden the horse has played a 

 minor part, until within the present century; but he has always occupied a 

 position of literary and scholastic respectability. Sacred and profane litera- 

 ture is full of the horse. Moses chronicles the horse trades of the incorrupt- 

 able Joseph with the hungry Egyptians; Homer compares Ajax bounding 

 over the ships to the horseman "who well knew how to ride several horses at 

 once, over the public highway," and tells how many admiring watched him, 



