HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 221 



for the last two or three years, and their general excellence, is 

 sufficient evidence that our farmers are giving to the subject, 

 an attention more in proportion to its importance than formerly. 

 The committee would take this opportunity to offer a few sug- 

 gestions, as to the kind of horse most worthy of breeding 

 amongst us. "x 



Time was, when a class of men, very appropriately called 

 croakers, were bewailing the introduction of railroads, as likely 

 to supersede the use of horses, and make them hardly worth 

 raising. This prediction has been abundantly falsified, as they 

 are still in good demand, and bring excellent prices. We ad- 

 mit, however, that the multiplication of railroads may have af- 

 fected, to a certain degree, the raising of horses ; making it a 

 matter of more importance, now, to raise a good horse, than a 

 poor one. Formerly, an awkward, a dull, or even an unsound 

 animal, provided he was good for draught, would find his way 

 to some one of the numerous teams that traversed the country, 

 and bring a fair price. Now, however, our produce and mer- 

 chandize are chiefly transported by means of railroads, the 

 demand for such horses is more limited, and they often find but 

 a poor market. This can hardly be called an evil, since it stim- 

 ulates to improvement. What we most need, at present, seems 

 to be a business horse ; one that shall be kept, not for show, 

 merely, nor yet for a drudge, but suitable for the lighter farm^ 

 work, and for the road. Such a horse should be of the medi- 

 um size, compactly built, clean in his limbs, of an easy, grace- 

 ful carriage, docile and kind in his disposition, hardy, and of 

 good performance on the road. Nor is it deemed impracticable, 

 to cultivate such a breed within the limits of this society. 

 There is already great improvement visible, but no one will 

 pretend to say, we have yet attained to perfection. We are 

 aware it is often objected, that our horses are made to do so 

 many kinds of work, as to make it impossible to produce or 

 keep up a breed, possessing marked excellence. But to this it 

 may be answered, that in the State of Vermont are raised, as 

 is well known, some of the best horses in the country. What 

 should prevent us from raising as good horses here ? Certainly, 

 nothing but want of care and attention. In our hill towns, 



