FOR PEACE AND WAR. 7 



Austria and Hungary legislate each for themselves, separately 

 and independently. Both encourage ' systematically ' the 

 breeding of horses ; in Austria there are two, and in Hungary 

 three government studs. A fourth also is soon to be added in 

 Transylvania. In each stud there are from two hundred to four 

 hundred mares, and from ten to twenty stallions, of almost all 

 descriptions of breeds. ' At present every endeavour is made to 

 keep these races distinct, and to send the largest proportion of 

 each to those parts of the country where they are found, by 

 experience, to do best. The produce of these studs is weeded 

 out, and the animals not considered fit for breeding are sold by 

 auction. Out of the best, mares are apportioned for the studs 

 themselves, and the staUions are sent to the depots, from whence 

 they travel the country in the season, and serve the country 

 mares on the payment of a small fee from 2s. to £10.' In re- 

 turn, however, for the services of these stallions, the Austrian 

 government, unlike the Prussian, has no claim whatever, on the 

 produce, which remains the exclusive property of the owner of 

 the mare. The extent to which farmers profit by this assistance 

 from the State may be judged by the fact that the Hungarian 

 government owns 1786 country stallions, and the Austrian 1600. 

 By a recent census the horses in the two countries numbered 

 3,525,000. Colonel Goodenough adds, ' The government seeks 

 to further stimulate the breeding of horses by giving prizes to 

 owners of the best stock ; in every country district there are 

 annual horse shows, at which commissioners, specially named, 

 attend, and award medals and prizes in money for the best 

 mares with foals, and further, for yearlings, and for two-year- 

 olds, and for three-year-olds. About i62,000 is devoted to this 

 purpose in the Austrian provinces this year. The government 

 also subsidises the owners of covering stallions for each such 

 horse examined and approved by them for breeding purposes ; 

 the animal has to be produced annually, and £10 to £30 is then 

 paid on his account.' The above appears to be the summary 

 of the assistance afforded by the Austrian government to private 

 breeders, and from all accounts some such artificial and extra- 



