STALLIONS, BROOD MARES AND FOALS. 127 



six, nine, ten, seventeen, and eighteen. In 1858 

 the highest average was produced by stallions 

 aged nine, ten, five, six, eight, fourteen, seven- 

 teen, twenty, and twenty-two years, and the 

 lowest by those aged eighteen, nineteen, four, 

 three, thirteen, and seven, in the order named. 

 In 1859 the percentage was nearly uniform for 

 all ages. In 1860 those aged seventeen, eighteen, 

 and nineteen led the colunrns, while those aged 

 four, twelve, and nine were last. In 1861 the 

 percentage was quite uniform regardless of age. 

 In 1860 a stallion aged twenty begot twice as 

 large a percentage as one aged four; one aged 

 ten stood the highest, while sixteen, six, and 

 four stood at the bottom of the list. The table 

 of the get of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, on page 

 124, also shows that in his case age apparently 

 had nothing to do with his fertility. Hence we 

 conclude that, as in the number of mares served, 

 so in the matter of age, the reproductive powers 

 of the stallion appear to be almost entirely a 

 matter of condition. 



EFFECT OF AGE UPON THE QUALITY OF THE GET. 



There has also been much speculation as to 

 the comparative value of the foals got by a 

 given stallion at different periods of life. The 

 statistics of European horse-breeding throw but 

 little light upon this subject, but our own trot- 

 ting statistics furnish us with abundant evi- 

 dence to prove that here also age has no effect. 



