750 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



possessing the purest blood, whose pedigree may be traced back to the best stock, for it is 

 well known to breeders of experience, that however good an animal may be in himself, if he 

 be of mongrel stock, his progeny will not be likely to represent his accidental good qualities, 

 but will rather be more liable to revert back to their inferior ancestry, it being the natural 

 tendency in animals to revert back to the original type. For this reason those mares should 

 be selected thp,t are the most closely allied to the best blood, and only thoroughbred or high- 

 grade stallions should be employed. Selections, even from thoroughbred stallions, should be 

 made with care, for many will be found objectionable for use; but a low-bred stallion should 

 ever be avoided. 



It is a well-known fact that a large majority of the horses that have distinguished them 

 selves by their achievements are the descendants of superior ancestors, the exceptions being 

 very rare. At the same time, circumstances may exert such a controlling influence that some 

 of the most noted horses may produce but ordinary or inferior foals. The expenditure of 

 nervous energies through a long campaign upon the race-course is decidedly opposed to the 

 best physical condition for reproduction, in either sire or dam, and the highest possibilities 

 of either can never be attained in this respect, while their vital forces are being used up for 

 racing purposes. This truth has been signally exemplified in employing, for breeding pur 

 poses, some of the noted trotting mares in their old age, and after their muscles and nerves 

 had been subjected to a severe strain, and in a great measure exhausted in trotting perform 

 ances. 



Neither Flora Temple, Lady Thome, nor Lucy have ever produced foals that have won 

 recognition in trotting circles, although the sires of their progeny were of most desirable 

 pedigree. Another important point, and yet the most frequently overlooked in breeding, 

 is in the combination; the unskillful mating of the dam and sire being the rule, rather 

 than the exception. There is much truth in the following: 



&quot; Peculiarity of form and constitution will also be inherited. This is a most important 

 but neglected consideration; for, however desirable or even perfect may have been the con 

 formation of the sire, every good point may be neutralized or lost by the defective structure 

 of the mare. The essential points should be good in both parents, or some minor defect in 

 either be met, and got rid of, by excellence in that particular point in the other. The unskill 

 ful or careless breeder too often so badly pairs the animals that the good points of each are 

 almost lost, the defects of both increased, and the produce is far inferior to both sire and dam.&quot; 



Breeders that are careless in this respect can expect nothing but inferior results, for it 

 must be remembered that while the general law, oft repeated, that &quot;like produces like&quot; is 

 true in the main, there are many exceptions, and that where either animal is deficient individ 

 ually, or their ancestors, it is often the case that the undesirable qualities are more readily 

 perpetuated than the desirable ones, and, therefore, too much care cannot be taken to secure, 

 as far as practicable, a mutual adaptation in form, size, temperament, disposition, etc., 

 between the sire and dam. 



Never breed an exceedingly small mare to a large stallion, or the reverse, as the result 

 will be anything but satisfactory. It will sometimes be found that the crossing of certain 

 good strains of horses will invariably, without any known cause, bring poor results. In 

 such instances their crossing should be avoided. The frame of the mare should be roomy, 

 wide at the hips, wide-chested, deep in the girth, quarters strong, and hocks rather wide apart. 



In the selection of both dam and sire, those qualities desirable to be possessed by the foal 

 should, as far as practicable, be represented in both parents. As these qualities have already 

 been previously stated, a repetition will be unnecessary in this connection. Suffice it to say, 

 that in breeding, aim to secure all the essential qualities, and as many of the other desirable 

 ones as possible-, therefore, breed for beauty, style, speed, docility, strength, endurance, and 

 as many of the other qualities to be preferred as possible, combining with these the size and 



