BREEDING. 51 



and branch diredly from the fubjeft, we re- 

 turn to the time befl: adapted by nature and 

 the feafon to the foaling of the mare. A few 

 words - having been already interpofed upon 

 the inconvenience of dropping her foal too 

 early, fomething confequently appertains to 

 its falling too late ; this Ihould never happen 

 when the year is too far advanced, as the 

 produce then has to encounter hourly increaf- 

 ing difficulties, the daily declination of the 

 genial fun, the decaying ftate of the verdure, 

 the impending rains, bleak winds, long 

 nights, foggy days, and the lank weak grafs, 

 form fo ftrong a combination againft im- 

 provement, (particularly if the winter fliould 

 prove an additional ftroke of feverity) that 

 the colt frequently feels the difadvantage, and 

 conftantly difplays it by the deficiencies in 

 frame and figure, as before defcribed. 



Taking however the variation of different 

 counties into the aggregate, to fix a criterion 

 of time applicable to all parts, I fhall not 

 hefitate a moment to pronounce the laft week 

 in April, and the three fir ft in May, the moft 

 proper month in the year for mares to take 

 the horfe, provided it can be by any means 

 E 2 effefted; 



