the Austro- Hungarian Emjnre. 341 



the Isles, Kingston, Trumpeter, Rataplan, Chanticleer, Touch- 

 stone, and other noted English racers were also seen. 



It was indeed with some regret that I witnessed here, as well 

 as in many other places, the transplanted material which becomes 

 year bv year rarer in our own country. The Austrian Govern- 

 ment buys the best blood in England at any price, which our 

 " individual enterprise " parts with for gold. Might not our 

 own Government enter the market and secure noted sires for the 

 general good of the country ? 



The horse stock at Kis-Ber consisted in December last of 452 

 head, comprising 10 stud horses; 32 2-year-old stallions; 26 

 yearling ditto ; 48 weaned foals ; 2 suckers ; 165 brood mares; 

 1 4-year-old mare ; 20 3-year-old fillies ; 22 2-year-old fillies ; 

 29 yearling fillies ; 48 weaned fillies ; 1 sucking ditto ; 2 

 geldings; 12 work horses; 14 servants' horses, and 17 csikos 

 or mounted herdsmen's horses. The estate of Kis-Ber has 

 furnished an average profit during the last ten years of 2000Z. 

 or about 4s. per acre over the entire domain. 



Barholna. — I was sent on from Kis-Ber behind four fine 

 horses from the Imperial stable, to Barbolna, where' I was 

 received by Major Friedrichs, who has charge of this the second 

 Imperial stud visited. Barbolna is situated on the right side of 

 the Danube 10 to 18 miles west of Komorn, and is 10,079 acres 

 in extent, all being in a ring fence, and divided by means 

 of acacia drives. The soil varies fi'om clay to sand and gravel, 

 and good black soil, and is from 1 to 3 feet in depth ; 8023 acres 

 are in arable cultivation. Here also oxen and horses are 

 employed in tillage, and the same implements, with the addition 

 of Priest and Woolnough's drill, were to be seen. Major 

 Friedrichs treated me to a rare show of Arabian stallions and 

 brood mares. The stud on the Barbolna estate was established 

 in 1790, and consists of thorough and half-bred Arabians. 

 They appeared small after the fine English thorough-breds of 

 Kis-Ber, but are exceedingly beautiful and very docile. The 

 head is characteristic, and the colour varies from chestnut to 

 dark-brown, iron-grey, and white. I also saw three pure-bred 

 black Arabians, which are considered rarities. The 2-year- 

 olds bred under the management of Major Friedrichs were 

 larger than the 3-year-olds previously bred, and his yearlings 

 and foals were very promising. The fine lofty, wide, and long 

 sheds, both here and at Kis-Ber, for housing young horses, are 

 quite worth inspection. Standing in the centre of a spacious 

 court I had a good opportunity of noticing the fine action and 

 fiery pride of the true Arab horse, as numbers of them were 

 passed around in review. It was a sight which I shall never 

 forget. As at Kis-Ber so here, the young stallions are sent out 



