200 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



in passing this resolution, for of course the Legislature will 

 be the judge as to whether they will enact such a law, or 

 not. 



Mr. Ware. Of course this law is not to be understood 

 as applying to a man who keeps a stallion for private use. 

 But the stallions that are advertised and put upon the 

 market for service can be reached, and it is proper, it seems 

 to me, that the farmers should be protected from the service 

 of an unsound stallion that is liable to impart that unsound- 

 ness to his progeny. If a private individual chooses to use 

 his stallion in a private way, of course this law would not 

 reach him, and it is not intended to do so ; but it is intended 

 to reach publicly advertised stallions that are on the market 

 as such. I say that it is not too much to require that such 

 stallions shall be sound. 



Mr. Chamberlain of Worcester. I object to the passage 

 of the resolution, on general principles. It is special leg- 

 islation. It is the opening wedge wjiich will be made 

 use of in the future, if it is sanctioned by this meeting, for 

 all kinds of restrictions upon all kinds of farm animals. It 

 appears to me that the law of the survival of the fittest, the 

 law of self-protection, which has had control of this matter 

 in the past, is sufficient to control it in the future ; and, as 

 special legislation, and as leading to what it appears to me 

 is very objectionable, I hope the resolution will not pass. 



Secretary Sessions. The opening wedge was started 

 generations ago. We have a law on the statute book that 

 has been there for many years, providing that rams shall not 

 be allowed to run at large at certain seasons of the year. 



Mr. Appleton. I understand that in the State of Indiana 

 it is required that in all advertisements of stallions standing 

 for use a certificate of soundness from the State Veterinary 

 Surgeon shall be published with those advertisements ; and 

 I believe it is also the law in France, where they are so noted 

 for their horses of various kinds. 



The Chairman. It seems to me that we may trust this 

 matter with a committee such as we have appointed to have 

 charge of it. They will, doubtless, if they bring anything 

 before the Legislature, bring something that will be of 

 benefit to the breeders of Massachusetts. 



