270 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Let the horse breeder study the subject and do his busmess 

 intelligently, and not look upon his results as mere chance, not 

 under his control, for nothing in nature is more entirely under 

 the guidance of man, than the future generation of horses. 



Let the blooded mare be selected with care — free from con- 

 stitutional or inherited imperfections — which she will be very 

 apt to transmit to her posterity, but accidental imperfections 

 are of less consequence. In short, let the animal be as perfect 

 in all the essential qualities desired in the colt, as possible — 

 due reference being had to the physical capacity for the great 

 function of reproduction — and the higher the strain of the 

 desired blood sought, the better ; and you will have accom- 

 lished all that is possible on the side of the dam. 



But the most common mistake is on the side of the sire. A 

 mistaken and ruinous economy dictates that a cheap sire shall 

 have preference ; whereas a horse of sufficiently high strain of 

 blood to justify breeding from him, is necessarily one of great 

 value and corresponding high price to his purchaser, and a colt 

 from whom must cost more as well as be worth more than from 

 an inferior horse, who costs but little, whose service can be 

 obtained cheap, and whose colts follow their sire both in their 

 qualities and value to the breeder. 



To illustrate the economy of breeding from the two classes 

 of horses above suggested : The former pays, say |20 for the 

 service of an ordinary horse, and gets a colt which will be worth 

 in the market, at two years old, $100, which pays him perhaps 

 a fair profit, and with this he is satisfied, for it is proverbial 

 that our agriculturists are, with certain moderate profits. 



C. C. Chaffee, Reporter. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



Report of the Committee. 



Mares and Colts. — The breeding of horses is a very import- 

 ant branch of husbandry. There are very few persons who 

 are not pleased with a fine colt or a beautiful horse, yet few 

 have the taste and skill requisite for breeding superior animals. 

 Most persons who desire to breed animals of superior quality, 



