BREEDING. 55 



neys ; I now made up my mind to take no 

 more trouble in the business, but leave the 

 rest to chance : in a very few months she 

 was visibly in foal ; and produced me an 

 exceeding handsome colt, that I disposed of 

 at a high price to a gentleman in Norfolk, 

 when rising two years old. 



This circumstance I have related, to esta- 

 blish by proof the consistency of adopting 

 the alternative, when the season is so far ad- 

 vanced as to hazard the loss of the year by 

 longer delay: for my own part, (and it is 

 clear I speak experimentally) I should never 

 hesitate to cover a mare in this Vvay, if she 

 continued to refuse the horse till the last 

 week in Maij, or the first week in Jime^ much 

 rather choosing to ravish the mask of delicacy 

 from her disposition, than lose her contribu- 

 tion to the stock for that year, or liave a colt 

 fall six Aveeks or two months toe; late in .the 

 season. 



It will become perfectly applicable here to 

 introduce a few words respecting the exact pe^ 

 riod of gestation in mares, upon which I never 

 I'emember to have heard or read any thing 



