210 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



kept througli the year, the advantages of the horse team are 

 much greater than the disadvantages. 



WiNSLOW Wellington, for Committee. 



Roadsters. — Most of our farmers use the same horse for all 

 kinds of work. They use him in the chaise an(jpiwagon, in the 

 cart, on the plough, and under the saddle. In order to be 

 perfect in any kind of work, the horse must be trained for that 

 work. If he had orginally the frame and constitution suited 

 to it, he will acquire the habit and movement best adapted to 

 it, and will perform his work with more ease to himself and 

 more satisfaction to his owner. The Morgan horse seems better 

 adapted to all work than any other breed. If he were a 

 little heavier, he would perhaps be better for farm work. But 

 he is hardy, strong, active and docile. He has naturally those 

 properties which fit him for the road. He has a deep chest and 

 wide, for a horse of his size, containing ample room for the 

 play of his lungs. His limbs are well proportioned to his body. 

 His joints are firm and strong, and he is able to endure steady 

 and long continued action. But even the best Morgan roadster 

 will soon be spoiled for the road, by being subjected to heavy 

 farm work, or by being fed in such a way as to increase his 

 strength and muscle, rather than his activity and spirits. A 

 good roadster must have from nature a light, easy motion, which 

 costs him but little effort. He must have muscular power suffi- 

 cient to sustain this motion, and a chest sufficiently ample to 

 allow his distended lungs the freest play. He must have, from 

 training, steadiness, courage, and perseverance, and such 

 quick and ready obedience, that he and his driver shall have 

 but one will. Then his service becomes a pleasure to both. 



Among horses naturally adapted to the road we find but few 

 good roadsters, partly from the fact already indicated, that 

 their gait and spirits are injured by heavy work, and partly 

 from want of suitable training. We must expect, then, to find 

 the best roadsters among those that are kept for special service. 

 We occasionally find a horse doing a moderate amount of farm 

 work that remains a good roadster for years, or through life. 

 But these are the exceptions and not the rule. The qualities 

 to be sought in a roadster are, lightness and ease of motion, 

 good temper, intelligence, courage and endurance. In select- 



