SECRETARY'S REPORT. 191 



In the same manner, by the judicious selection of the very 

 choicest breeding animals, both male and female, of the best 

 pedigree, and by proper attention to tlio wants of the young 

 stock, now too much neglected, there is reason to believe that 

 New England might produce a breed of American Roadsters 

 almost perfect. Possessing as she does, the most suitable cli- 

 mate, an abundance of the best food, the best drivers and roads 

 for fast trotting and the choicest breeding animals, nothing is 

 lacking but a little of that enterprise and discretion on the part 

 of horse-breeders, by which her cattle-breeders have been con- 

 ducted to such complete success. 



The greatest hindrance in the way of breeders is the difficulty 

 of obtaining the services of suitable stallions at reasonable 

 rates. 



In those countries which require large numbers of fine horses 

 for military purposes, the governments give great encourage- 

 ment to horse-breeding. 



Napoleon, the great, imported more than two hundred Ara- 

 bian stallions for the improvement of the breed of horses in 

 France. The present Emperor also bestows much attention 

 upon the subject ; and stallions of the best quality are purchased 

 by government and stationed in the different districts of the 

 empire. 



During the last nine hundred years the English government 

 has done much at various times for the perfection of their 

 breeds of horses. Many hundred stallions and mares have been 

 imported by different kings from Flanders, Italy, Spain, and 

 especially from the East. 



Henry the Eighth enacted most tyrannical laws respecting 

 both the use and the breeding of horses. He forbade any stal- 

 lions to be preserved, which were less than fifteen hands high ; 

 and required his officers to destroy any " unlikely tits," whether 

 stallions, mares, or foals, which would be liable to injure the 

 breed. He also compelled every man, whose wife wore a 

 French hood, or a velvet bonnet, to keep for the saddle one 

 trotting stallion, while dukes and archbishops were obliged to 

 have seven. 



The Duke of Augustenburg resides upon the island of Alsen, 

 in the Baltic Sea, and devotes much attention to the breeding 

 of fine horses, striving to produce such as are distinguished for 



