392 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Sec, 236/240 ; exempt, 437,754. This gives a total of 

 790,785 charged, exclusive of Ireland. 



The increase of our horseflesh, then, is not a matter 

 of indifference even to the Government, seeing that 

 horses bring in a revenue of nearly 4CO,O00Z. a year. 



The comparative assessments on horses and horse- 

 dealers in the decennial periods named have been as 

 follows : — 



GROSS PRODUCE OP REVENUE FOR GREAT 

 BRITAIN. 



Riding Horses. Other Horses. Horse-dealers. 



1831.... £356,356 i; 61,484 £13,543 



1841.... 344,571 71,699 14,198 



1851.... 300,403 76,254 10,800 



1859.... 230,617 117,819 13,757 



But what is our limited stock of horses compared 

 to the vast number in Russia, which, by their mor- 

 tality, not only supply us with tons of horse-hides and 

 horse-hair, but also with those breakfast delicacies 

 yclept Russian "ox-tongues," which never, however, 

 adorned a bovine throat. 



In 1851 there were more than 17,000,000 horses in 

 the Russian empire : of these the greater number was 

 to be found in the provinces of Oran (2,000,000) 

 and Perm (700,000), where most of the inhabitants 

 — who are of the Tartar race — have a peculiar inclina- 

 tion for horse-breeding; or the country of the Don 

 Cossacks (400,000), where horsemanship is an indis- 

 pensable part of the daily avocations of the people; and 

 in the provinces of Middle Russia, which require a 

 great number of horses to carry on their extensive 

 trade. 



As far back as the historical accounts of Russia ex- 

 tend, the rearing of horses seems always to have formed 

 a notable branch of the national industry. The war- 

 like and nomadic habits of the ancient population — the 

 increasing demands for the supply of the numerous 

 cavalry and artillery of a large army — the immense 

 distances, requiring a large amount of animal labour, 

 as well for the conveyance of produce and merchan- 

 dise as for locomotion, all combined, have stimulated 

 the development of this branch of rural economy, fa- 

 voured as it is over a large portion of the empire by the 

 great extent of pasture-lands. Accordingly the 

 Russians possess excellent horses for all uses. We need 

 not particularize here the several varieties. 



From a recent account we learn that the imperial 

 studs at present are seven in number, namely, two in 

 the government of \\'oreneje, four in that of Kharkow 

 and four in that of Nijini Novgorod. Being destined 

 to raise stallions for different purposes, they have been 

 arranged accordingly, and each of them has a type pe- 

 culiar to itself. The Tschesmenka stud is a nursery of 

 pure-blooded horses, and is divided into two sections, 

 one devoted to English racers, and the other to Ara- 

 bian. The Khreuovoie stud is composed of three de- 

 partments—saddle-horses of the old Orloff breed, 

 uncrossed saddle-horses, and cross-breeds, including 

 the Rostoptschine-breed stallions; the Derkhoul stud 

 for large-framed cuirassier horses ; the Strelitz stud 

 for light cavalry; the Novo Alexandroff stud for draft- 

 horses of medium size; and the Pochinki stud for 



heavy draft-horses of large size, and the ordinary farm- 

 horses of the country. The rural liorse depots, or pri- 

 vate studs, are twenty-four in number, and serve 

 twenty-nine governments. In 1850 they comprised 

 1,440 stallions, which in that year covered 25,189 

 mares, being an average of 17 or 18 for each stallion. 



Among the agricultural horses of Rus&ia, two classes 

 are to be distinguished. The first the common or in- 

 digenous breed, which possesses every proper quality, 

 both as to strength and energy of temperament : but 

 although it leaves nothing to be wished for in either of 

 these respects, it is, unfortunately, at the present day, 

 subject to degeneracy, in consequence of precocious 

 copulation between animals only two or three years of 

 age; and the other, an improved breed, has shown in 

 numerous instances the advantages of crossing it with 

 trotters. 



Horses are imported into Austria in greater numbers 

 than are exported from it. In the years previous to 

 1850 the excess of those imported was about 4,000, 

 They appear to be brought in tolerably equal propor- 

 tions from Tartary, from Southern Germany, Spain, and 

 Russia. In 1854, those imported exceeded the number 

 exported by 8,300 ; but in 1856 the excess was only 

 2,700. 



Our own import and export trade in horses, although 

 not large, is important. In the six years ending with 

 1858 we imported 24,558 horses, and shipped, during 

 the same period, 13,218; but the value of the horses 

 exported is very much in excess of those imported, the 

 price biiag fully as three to one; the average value of 

 the horses brought in being but £'30, while those sent 

 away to order are worth about £90. Of 3,458 horses 

 imported in 1858, 1,764 came from Belgium and 

 Holland; 782 from Iceland and Faroe; and 781 from 

 France. Strangely enough, the principal number of 

 those we ship go to the same countries — no doubt to 

 improve the breed. Thus in 1858 there were shipped to 

 France, Belgium, and Holland, 1,864 out of the total 

 of 2,072 exported. 



The India Government has been long turning its at- 

 tention to different quarters for the purchase of horses. 

 The result of its Commissions in the Cape Colony and 

 Australia we have, from time to time, noticed. Several 

 hundred had been purchased in Egypt, at about ^25 

 each, and shipped to Bombay. It was calculated that 

 these horses would cost the Government nearly ^100 

 each, irrespective of casualties. 



Finally : We think more attention might be paid to 

 the breeding of horses in many of our West Indian 

 colonies than is now given. With the cheap and 

 abundant pasturage, this might be done at very small 

 expense. Mr. President Price, in an official despatch 

 to Governor Hamilton, dated March 23, 1858, thus 

 speaks of the ponies of the Virgin Islands: — "The 

 breed of ponies, of from 12| to 13J hands high, 

 is distinguished for many excellent points. Endurance 

 and admirable feet to sustain the shocks inseparable 

 from running amongst rugged hills, with light and 

 active frames, mark these animals as particularly well 

 fitted for crossing with larger horses. A slight increase 

 in the size of the mares would infallibly lead to the 

 establishment of mule-breeding on a more satisfactory 

 plan ; and when I add that each of these animals, at 

 three years old, will command from 100 to 130 dollars 

 (£"■20 to £26), in any of the Leeward Islands — and 

 that the cost of rearing them is so small as to be 

 scarcely appreciable (certainly not more than about 

 50s. a head) — the profits of this particular entea-prise 

 will be sufliciently apparent." 



