572 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



continued tax on the vitality of the racer and trotter, have weak- 

 ened the generative powers, while it has hardened the tissues 

 and developed speed and lung-power. 



The foals of such noted mares as Flora Temple and Gold- 

 smith Maid and Lady Thome have not shown the power and 

 speed of their dams, although they were bred to stallions noted 

 for their family power of producing trotters of rare ability. 

 The expenditure of nervous power, in their long and exhaustive 

 campaigns, has used up that vigor, or superabundant nervous 

 power which, had it been reserved for their foals, would have 

 enabled them to impress their excellence on their offspring. 

 The large majority of mares and stallions which have long been 

 in training and use on the track until past the prime of life 

 have failed of usefulness in the stud. 



The list of noted brood-mares does not include the great 

 campaigners. The long list of successful sires does not include 

 the old campaigners of greatest note. Rysdyk's Hambletonian, 

 Mambrino Chief, and any of their families, who have excelled' 

 in the stud, had short work on the race-track. Their nervous 

 force and vigor were left unimpaired and reserved for the stud, 

 where they were enabled to impress their get with so much of 

 their trotting instinct and power. 



These facts are simply in harmony with the general law, 

 "like produces like." The old campaigners had reduced their 

 nervous force and vigor down below the normal level of their 

 family, and their get had not that vigor and power that lifted 

 them above the average. The facts are important for the breeder 

 to keep in mind. 



Condition of Sire and Dam. Another inference comes 

 along with them, and that is, condition of the dam and sire at the 

 time of mating is important. So important is it, we see that it 

 even so countervails all expectance of highest good from a royal 

 record and royal {incestors, as to lead to disappointment. This 

 matter of condition at breeding time, then, is of first importance. 

 The sire should be in such a condition as to be able to impress 

 his qualities on his get. The dam should be in such a perfectly 

 healthy condition and free from nervous derangement or exhaus- 



