226 THE HORSE 



occupied in carrying on several lines of activity, such 

 as grain, fruit and berry industries, would better not 

 attempt to breed the larger varieties of pure-blooded 

 animals. For him the breeding of grade cattle, sheep 

 and horses is likely to be more remunerative than the 

 purchasing of them when wanted, or the breeding of 

 pure animals, which necessitates large expenditures for 

 foundation stock. Most farmers would better master 

 the art of successful live-stock breeding by the pro- 

 duction of grades. If eminently successful in this, it 

 is easy to change to the breeding of pure-blooded 

 animals when the principles and practices of breeding 

 are mastered. The breeding of superior grades pre- 

 supposes that the dams are selected with a specific 

 purpose in view, and that their sires are pure-blooded 

 animals selected from the stables of those whose chief 

 business is to breed and rear superior pure-blooded 

 animals endowed with strong, specialized characteris- 

 tics. It is no uncommon thing to see horses with 

 draft bodies and roadster limbs and feet, or with these 

 characteristics reversed. Some have large, ill -shaped 

 heads and legs and beefy shoulders, with the trotter's 

 loins and hindquarters. Too often, the feet and limbs 

 are not well adapted to the body -weight or the work 

 which the horses are called on to do. In pioneer days, 

 oxen were largely used for farm work; but, when the 

 forests were cleared away and the country lad had 

 outgrown his homespun suit, he longed for more 

 rapid transit than could be secured even from his 

 yoke of frisky steers. 



As yet the true draft -horse was not thought of. 



