266 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



such animals, if the owners were to he helieved, which we have 

 no reason to doubt, were on the ground this year. The notion 

 that any slow horse will do for the farmer, is a very foolish one. 

 The ch lirman can state from Lis own experience, that a high- 

 spirited, fast road horse, with a little careful training, is as much 

 better adapted for tlie work of tlie farm, as for the road. The 

 difference between such a horse and one of an opposite character, 

 can hardly be estimated, where you have to pay so high for farm 

 labor as at the present time. I have the past season, broken in 

 to the plough and harrow two high-spirited fast road horses, 

 that one, to see on the road, would hardly think of using in the 

 plough. But I can show ploughing done by them among stumps 

 and roots, that would be thought rough work for steady oxen. 



William Osborne, Chairman. 



MIDDLESEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Mares and Stallions. — In reporting upon breeding mares 

 and stallions, your committee would make some suggestions, 

 which they consider worthy of note. 



In selecting a breeding mare, we should look for an animal of 

 sound constitution, full of vigor and strength ; not a broken 

 down aged beast turned over to close her life as a breeder. The 

 general good qualities of the breeder should receive particular 

 regard ; good disposition, smoothness of limb, soundness of 

 wind, &c., and the general structure of the animal, "the make 

 of the beast," are essential requisites. A breeder should possess 

 a broad, prominent chest and breast, with the largest breadth 

 across the hips, and a capacious foal bed, and withal rather 

 loosely made. The other parts may be suited to tlie owner's 

 taste, or requirements. Great caution should be used with every 

 mare with foal, and particularly in regard to long and hard 

 driving, or over-working of any kind, these being highly inju- 

 rious to both dam and foal. 



All stallions (stock horses) should be of sound constitution, 

 and without blemish. This should be an axiom with all breed- 

 ers. Then their conformation should correspond to the wants 



