THE GOVERNMENT AS A BREEDER 171 



lines of breeding which produce these horses. To 

 a certain extent they are accidents of breeding, 

 but there is little doubt that certain families show 

 a greater tendency in this direction than others. 

 For example, the descendants of Alexander's Ab- 

 dallah, Harrison Chief, the Morgans and the 

 Clay family have been more or less notable in this 

 respect. Further, certain sires are known to pro- 

 duce handsome and marketable horses with 

 regularity. 



"In view of these facts, the department decid- 

 ed to undertake the development of a breed of 

 carriage horses on an American foundation as an 

 interesting and important problem for solution. If 

 successful it will show that we can develop our 

 own breeding stock of horses in this country; it 

 will make light horse breeding less a lottery than 

 it is at present, and will at the same time provide 

 breeding animals which can be used profitably on 

 the lighter horses of the country. 



"After a thorough search the department has 

 purchased as foundation stock eighteen mares 

 and one stallion. In addition, it can command 

 the services of additional stallions if desired. The 



