SECRETARY'S REPORT. 151 



and Dairy Farming, by C. L. Flint, pp. 118, 122, 197, 199, 1-^7, 

 396; Grasses and Forage Plants, by C. L. Flint, pp. 177, 217, 

 219, 220, 231, 235, 236. 



George M. Atwater. 



The Committee appointed by the Board to consider the 

 subject submitted the following 



REPORT 



ON HORSES. 



Among the circulars distributed by this Board, in the Spring 

 of 1859, for the purpose of obtaining from the intelligent farm- 

 ers of the State, information upon a variety of topics of great 

 importance in agriculture, was one upon horses, in which the 

 following inquiries were proposed : 



1. "What has been the ratio of increase in the number of horses in 

 your town compared with the census of 1850? 



2. "What breeds of horses are raised in your town, also imported into 

 your town, and where from ? 



3. "What breed do you consider as the best for all work ? Name also 

 the breed best for roadsters. 



4. Name the average value of each class, when three years and seven 

 years old. 



5. Name the owners and number of breeding horses owned and kept 

 in your town, and their pedigree. 



G. "What, in your experience, is the average life of horses, also of 

 mares ? 



7. ^Yhat months of the year do you pasture horses ? What other 

 food do you give them while pastui-ed? 



8. On what are they most advantageously fed when stabled ? Name 

 the cost per month of keeping horses in full working condition, estimating 

 hay SI 5 per ton, oats 50 cents, and corn $1 per bushel, roots $12 per ton. 



9. AVill you state such facts concerning the history, breeding, and 

 management of the horse in your region, or economy in the construction 

 of stables ; improvement and economy in making of harnesses ; modes 

 of shoeing, &c., which you consider of general interest? 



At the meeting of the Board in January, 1860, it was found 

 that but few replies to these questions had been received by the 



