258 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1919. 



wild and misdirected rusli to participate in good prices is made, and 

 breeding from or by inferior horses is practised, such as occurred in the 

 previous boom, the result will be a glut, and consequent drop in values. 

 This will first be noticed in the inferior sorts, for horses of good quality 

 Avill always command fair value. This was observable even during the 

 past season, good types realizing a price Which, if not profitable, did 

 jiot carry the loss that occurred with poorer types. Therefore those who 

 decide to again pay attention to horse raising should remember that the 

 breeding of the best is the only sound proposition in this as in all other 

 farming, whilst the worse is merely gambling, and, though with it 

 a chance success may be secured, loss is bound to occur eventually. 



In order to help the breeder to some extent, the Government certifica- 

 tion of stallions. Avas introduced, and horses not holding such certificates 

 should be passed by, notwithstanding the temptation of low fees which is 

 offered. When the Bill for the licensing of stallions becomes law, it will 

 be of inestimable value to breeders, for the removal of the non-certificated 

 horse is' essential to the attainment of best results. The present time, 

 when the number of unsound stallions is small, and their value small, is 

 opportune for the application of the measure, at the mininium incon- 

 venience to stallion owners. A cause of much dissatisfaction will be 

 removed when the Bill is passed, for with the cheap competition of local 

 non-certificated horses, breeders often do not avail themselves of the 

 services of superior travelling stallions, whose progeny would make for 

 all-round improvement. 



Examinations and Rejections. 



During the past year, 116 parades were arranged for, but these Avere 

 eventually reduced to 88. This was done with the kindly assistance of 

 secretaries of agricultural societies and horse-owners, who, appreciating 

 the difficulties arising from a short staff of examining officers available, 

 anade arrangements to take horses, if few in number, to distant or more 

 central parades, or, if it were likely that no horses were coming forward, 

 ■cancelled the parade altogether. 



For the coming season, the forbearance of breeders and assistance of 

 all concerned is again asked. By next year it is expected that the full 

 staff will have returned to duty, and normal conditions will prevail. 



At the 88 parades held a total of 2Ql stallions was submitted to 

 examination, and 38, or 14.5 per cent., were rejected on account of the 

 presence of one or other of the scheduled hereditary unsoundnesses, 

 whilst 58, or 22.14 per cent., were rejected as being below a suitable 

 standard. The number examined was an increase of 30 over the pre- 

 vious season. The rejections on account of unsoundness show an increase 

 over those of the previous year. This increase is due to the greater 

 number of light horses being rejected, 14.66 per cent, being unsound as 

 against 3.57 per cent, in 1917. As' previously pointed out, the 

 variation in the percentage rejected from year to year can 

 only be regarded from a broad aspect, and . no hard and fast 

 deductions can be made, for when the total number is small it requires 

 very few rejections to make a big percentage variation. Further, the 

 disability of being unable to put the unsound sire out of commission 

 and allowing him to beget progeny for future rejection detracts very 

 considerably from the value of the annual figures. When the Bill 

 which has been drafted for the licensing of stallions becomes law, this 



