366 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



which consisted of a number of Spanish stallions. These 

 were supposed to be strongly imbued with the Arabian blood, 

 which had been brought over to that country by the Moors, 

 who had founded the Saracenic empire in the Peninsula, three 

 centuries before. More than a century later, John made 

 some importations from Flanders, to give weight and sub- 

 stance to their draught and cavalry horses. The improve- 

 ment of their various breeds, was afterwards pursued with 

 more or less judgement and zeal, by other British monarchs, 

 till they reached their highest excellence during the middle 

 of the last century. Plying Childers, Eclipse, Highflyer, and 

 others on the course, have probably exceeded in speed any- 

 thing ever before accomplished ; while the draught-horse, the 

 roadster, the hackney, the cavalry horse and the hunter, 

 attained a merit at that time, which some judicious author- 

 ities claim, has not been since increased. It is even asserted, 

 that some of the more serviceable breeds, have been seriously 

 injured by too great an infusion of the blood ; while the 

 almost universal absence of long heats on the turf, has tended 

 to the improvement of speed, rather than bottom in the race 

 horse. 



The improvement of the horse in this country, has not been 

 a matter of record or history, till within a comparatively recent 

 period. But it has silently, and with no little rapidity been going 

 forward, for more than a century, till we have obtained a race 

 of animals, throughout the eastern and middle states at least, 

 which probably equal those of any other country for adapted- 

 ness to draught, the road and the saddle. This improvement 

 has been mainly brought about, by the importation of some 

 of the best and stoutest of tJie English blood. In breeding 

 from these for purposes of utility, particular reference has 

 l''ii paid to strength, enduringness and speed. No horses 

 surpass our best four-mile bloods ; none equal our trotters ; 

 and though much inequality exists in those bred for our vari- 

 ous other uses, yet for profitable service, it is believed, no equal 

 number <>f :iuiii);tls elsewhere, can exceed those in the region 

 above indicated. It would be a superfluous task to attempt 

 enumerating all the imported horses that have contributed to 

 this improvement. Each good animal has done something. 

 But among the earlier horses which may be named with dis- 

 tinction, as having effected much for our useful beasts, are 

 Lath, Wildair, Slender, Sour-krout, Tally-ho, Figure, Bay 

 Richmond, Expedition, Baronet, and a host of others. Pre- 

 eminent among these, was imported Messenger. He was 



