AGRICULTURE. 289 



horses. The Mexicans never broke their mares, and con- 

 sidered it discreditable and a mark of great poverty to ride 

 one. 



The American horses, that is the common stock of horses 

 brought from the Atlantic States, and their offspring, are 

 large, fine animals, not so healthy and tough as the Califor- 

 nian horses, but larger, more active, stronger, and more hand- 

 some in shape and color. 



Many stallions and mares of fine blood have been imported, 

 including thoroughbreds or English racers, Morgans, and vari- 

 ous other American trotters, and Clydesdale and other heavy 

 cart and truck horses. Some of these horses are valued as 

 high as twenty thousand dollars each. The trotters are in 

 greater demand, and bring higher prices than the thorough- 

 breds, and much more than the working horses ; but the last 

 are the animals of direct industrial value. The Clydesdale, 

 crossed with the American and Spanish stocks, supplies many 

 of our best horses for heavy draught. The pure Clydesdale 

 weighs about 2,000 pounds ; the three-quarter blood, (one 

 quarter Spanish) at four years old, weighs about 1,500 pounds, 

 and is worth $300 ; the half-blood weighs 1,300 pounds, and is 

 worth $250 ; and the pure Spanish weighs 800 and sells for 

 $50. The cross of the Clydesdale with the American, gives a 

 larger and more valuable animal. Many of the Clydesdale 

 grades (as animals of mixed blood are called) are worth from 

 $400 to $800. 



210. Hides. Nearly all the farm work of California, 

 where draught animals are necessary, is done with horses. 

 Mules are too dear and oxen are too slow. Many mules and 

 horses are used in packing merchandise in those districts where 

 there are no good wagon-roads. For the ordinary uses of the 

 farm the mule is preferable to the horse, being longer-lived, 

 more healthy, not so much injured physically or morally by 

 ill-treatment, and able to thrive on cheaper and simpler food. 

 But the mule is not considered handsome, and the small farmer 

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