254 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



as the Percheron due to the interest and effort of the individual 

 breeder. 



In form, the Belgian is the most compact, having a maximum 

 weight for its size. No breed in proportion to its size shows as 

 much body girth. The muscling is powerful throughout. The 

 action is inferior to that of the Percheron because of the more 

 massive conformation. The weight varies from eighteen hun- 

 dred pounds to twenty-two hundred pounds, ihe height from six- 



FlG. 144. — Belgian; tlip type that gets )ow, massive work horses. 



teen hands to seventeen hands. The more conunon colors are 

 bay, black and bro^ai. The Belgian is very x)opular in America. 



Clydesdale. — This breed originated in the valley of the Clyde 

 River in Scotland, hence the name. The valley of .the Clyde has 

 long been known for powerful farm horses of superior size and 

 strength. Improvement was due to the efforts and methods of 

 the breeders and to importation of draft horses from England 

 by Scotch cattle dealers. This new blood served to improve the 

 quality and increase the size of the n^.tive stock. Upon this 

 foundation, the modern Clydesdale was reared, the result of 

 individual initiative on the part of the horse breeders. 



The size and form compares favorably with the Percheron, 

 but the Clydesdale possesses distinctive features. Thus the back 



