46 BIIEEDING» 



equal to the Herculean task assigned them ? 

 Can it be matter of surprize^ that not more 

 than one-third, or, upon a more favourable 

 computation, one-half at most, of the mares 

 covered in this way produce a colt, and that 

 the half of those so produced never come to 

 a proper size, bone, or strength ?" Then can 

 there remain a doubt in the mind of any un- 

 prejudiced man living, but to these causes 

 may be attributed some portion of that de- 

 ficiency so generally complained of, and tod 

 frequently attributed to the ivant of bone in 

 sire or dam ? 



Having hitherto introduced what I con- 

 ceive to be the leading qualifications in horse 

 and mare to render the business of breeding 

 pleasant and advantageous, we come next to 

 consider the season most proper for bring- 

 ing them together: as it must be admitted, 

 an inconvenience will certainly arise to the 

 mare by foaling too early in the spring, 

 or to the produce by falling too late in the 

 summer, it w^ill undoubtedly prove more 

 eligible to adhere a little to the line of me- 

 diocrity, letting either extreme be carefully 

 avoided. 



