262 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 



[10 April, 1911. 



Examinations and Rejections. 



During the season a total of 813 horses were examined, a slight increase 

 in the number that were submitted during 1909. Of these 596 received 

 certificates, while 217 or 26.69 per cent, were rejected. This is a decrease 

 of 3 per cent., compared with the rejections during the previous season, but 

 the fact that not so many " scrubbers" were submitted for examination is 

 largely responsible for the falling off. This was particularly the case in 

 the pony class, which shows a fall from 25.65 per cent, refused in 1909, 

 to 15.62 per cent, in 1910, for being below a rea-sonable standard for ap- 

 proval as regards breed, type and conformation. In other classes, there is 

 also a slight decrease in the percentage rejected under this head as against 

 that of the previous season ; but in comparison with the number rejected for 

 the three previous years the percentage is slightly above the average. 



III. — Analysis of Defects of Stallions Refused Certificates for 

 Seasons. 1907, 1908, 1909 (to 31/12/09). 



Rejections as Regards Soundness. 

 Under this heading a comparative study of the tables for 1909 and 1910 

 will show that of the 813 horses examined in 1910, 139 ox 17.09 per cent, 

 were rejected for hereditary unsoundness, in one or other of its forms, and 

 as was seen in previous years the draught horse is the breed in which 

 unsoundness most largely exists, the percentage affected in the class being 

 21.57 per cent, as against 23.52 per cent, in 1909. On analyzing the un- 

 soundnesses upon which rejections were made, ringbone shows the greatest 



