208 THE HOUSE BOOK. 



longer period than elsewhere in any part of the 

 empire. Less use, too, of the Thoroughbred 

 has probably been made there than in any other 

 district. Government aid is extended to the 

 breeders r and stallions are annually approved 

 for public service. Conservative always and 

 hastening slowly the Oldenburg breeders have 

 succeeded in turning out what is probably the 

 most uniform breed of the kind extant. Bays, 

 browns and blacks are the established colors 

 and must have been favored for a long time, 

 as it is a very rare thing to see an off-colored 

 colt after one of these horses. German methods 

 .and regulations are at times hard for the Ameri- 

 can mind to understand, but from such informa- 

 tion as may be gathered, horse breeding in Ger- 

 many is carried on in a manner which is about 

 half way between the nationalized system of 

 France and the free individualism of Britain. 

 Many questions have been put regarding the 

 brands visible on German Coachers. Applica- 

 tion was made to the Imperial Minister of Agri- 

 culture at Berlin for an official statement, which 

 runs thus : 



"In Germany, that is in Oldenburg, East Friesland, and 

 in parts of Holstein, only young stallions or stallion foals 

 are branded. These brands are for the purpose to prove 

 that the young stallions received premiums. In East 

 Prussia all the produce of mares that are entered in the 

 East Prussian Stud Book are branded with the double 

 'Elchshovel/ The State has nothing to do with this busi- 

 ness of branding." 



