ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 189 



art of nicking; every dealer or farrier can per- 

 form it. Bartlet's fuppofed improvement, I 

 underftand, did not fucceed. I fpeak not from 

 my own knowledge. 



I have alfo cropped yearlings. It is appa- 

 rent, in that time, or at any rate, at two years 

 old, whether from the over-fize, ill-fhape, or 

 pofition of the ears, it will be ever neceffary 

 to crop the nag; and if fo, there is an obvious 

 convenience in having it done early, and 

 before he comes into work; and I have never 

 found that the after-growth of the ear, fpoiled 

 the crop. There is one difadvantage in this 

 bufinefs, which however fome people will 

 think an advantage. It furnifhes an opportu- 

 nity of deception. One of the colts mentioned 

 above, I fold to a dealer at two years old; 

 being cropped and docked, and neither his 

 ears nor tail bearing the lead mark of recent 

 operation, he in one fmgle day more reached 

 four years of age; and was actually fold at 

 Winchefter fair, as a four year old. 



The practice of caftrating Horfes, fo univer- 

 fal in this country, is no doubt founded upon 

 the moll rational experience of its ufe and 

 propriety; viewing it even in the light of huma- 

 nity, it is preferable. We do not find that 

 inferiority in geldings for any fervices, which 

 theoretical reafoning upon the matter might 

 lead us to fuppofe. The difference between 



the 



