HIS CHEAP FEE ATTRACTED MANY 



Although mongrel-bred, unsound and with apparently no points to commend him to the pro- 

 spective breeder, this horse enjoyed an extensive patronaj:e, due to his cheap fee, although 

 pure-bred stallions were maintained in his district and were equally accessible. It is reported 

 that he has been retired from service. 1 he present crisis demands that every similar unsound 

 animal be likewise replaced by sound stock for breeding purposes. Photograph from A. S. 

 Alexander. (Fig. 15.) 



breeders of the country have an oppor- 

 tunity to contribute to the welfare of 

 the country. Animals must be pro- 

 duced for much of the work on the 

 battlefields, since horses can make head- 

 way over . shell holes where an auto 

 truck is unable to go; and the availa- 

 bility of the economic resources of the 

 nation will be dependent to a large 

 degree on the accessibility of sufficient 

 draft animals. 



During the past three years, the Allies 

 have not only utilized their own equine 

 resources but have also made heavy 

 drafts on American stock. Up to May 

 1, 1917, the entente had imported from 

 this country 1,107,152 horses and mules, 

 at prices ranging from SlOO to $250, 

 Since the number of horses in the 

 United States is approximately 24,100,- 



000, about 4.0% of the available horses 

 have been purchased and about 6.0% of 

 the available mules. 



ALLIES DID NOT GET THE BEST 



It has often been stated that the 

 Allies have stripped the American mar- 

 ket of all superior horses, so that few are 

 left except those physically unfit for war 

 work. Such is not the case. Data 

 compiled by the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry, U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, indicate that the Allies have 

 purchased only average horses from the 

 sound stock of the country and that 

 facilities for breeding good stock are just 

 as available as ever. There is certainly 

 enough good stock in the country which 

 is accessible to the breeder for producing 

 the essential animals for use during the 



513 



