348 AGKICULTURE AND THE HORSE. 



topics which occupied the attention of those who sat 

 around the cradle of the New-England Agricultural 

 Society was the Horse. The precise relations which 

 the horse holds to agriculture ; the profit to be derived 

 from breeding this animal; his true value in an eco- 

 nomic point of view ; the exact utility of an animal which 

 matures slowly, leads an expensive life, is not used for 

 food, has a sentimental as well as a useful existence; 

 how best to breed him, and feed him, and shelter him, 

 and shoe him, and drive him ; how to admit him into 

 the agricultural circle, — these subjects occupied, and 

 somewhat confused and disturbed, the minds of those 

 agricultural fathers assembled there. That there was 

 deep respect for the horse there, no one could deny. 

 That there was considerable doubt about him, was very 

 evident. That there was a great deal of ignorance with 

 regard to him, was manifest. That he was very much 

 misunderstood, was apparent. When the question was 

 asked, how to breed a really good horse for a specific 

 purpose, — a horse of intelligence and patience, and 

 courage and sagacity, and good physical powers, — it 

 was delightful to see with what sublime simplicity the 

 great disciple of the great Cuvier sat and listened to 

 the profound deductions of the practical breeders who 

 had kept practical stallions, whose success they were 

 anxious to attribute more to their own practical wis- 

 dom than to the occasional good fortune which will 

 always attend a multitude of chances. When the 

 question of feeding arose, it was surprising to see by 



