30 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



has reacted, although not until the breed had suffered as 

 a consequence. The Percheron breeders submerged the 

 old gray Percheron and gave preference to the more 

 modern black in answer to American preference, and 

 now that the demand of the draft-horse market in this 

 country is said to place a premium on grays, the breeders 

 will have to swing back if American preference is to be 

 recognized. Uniformity of color and attractive markings 

 are admitted by every one to be desired, and the Clydes- 

 dale is the sufferer for bizarre markings. 



24. History in America. The first importations 

 were made into Canada in 1842, when Archibald Ward 

 of Markham, Ontario, imported Grey Clyde, 78; three 

 years later, R. Johnson, of Scarborough, Ontario, im- 

 ported Sovereign, 181. Other importations were made 

 into Canada in 1850-51-54. About twenty years later 

 Clydesdales were imported to the United States, both 

 directly from Scotland and from Canada as well. The 

 largest importations were made after 1880, and in the 

 following twelve years many thousands of both sexes were 

 brought to America. They are now widely distributed, 

 and generally known and used. 



25. Description. Clydesdales (Fig. 4) have a kind, 

 quiet disposition, good courage, and enough spirit. A 

 weight of 1700 to 2000 pounds for stallions and 1500 to 

 1800 pounds for mares, with an average height of 16^ 

 hands for the former and 16 hands for the latter, may be 

 regarded as the standard for mature, well-developed indi- 

 viduals of this breed. The characteristics of the modern 

 Clydesdale, in reference to color, vary somewhat, the most 

 prevalent being bay, brown, black or occasionally chest- 

 nut, with white markings on the forehead or face and 

 below the knees and hocks. They vary more in charac- 



