GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 43 



point to certain private studs, producing as many roarers as 

 themselves or more. But I think this does not much shake 

 my argument. No doubt a certain number of select studs 

 breeding first-class yearlings for sale, as for instance the 

 Blankney stud and some others, contribute just as much to 

 the improvement of the breed as the best private studs ; but 

 what I mean to say is, that the overgrowth of public studs, in 

 comparison to home breeding, softens the thoroughbred race, 

 through using too much weak, unsound, and altogether inferior 

 material for the reproduction, and through forcing the foals too 

 much with a view to the yearling market. 



