386 



THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. 



BOOK III, 



Spring Shows, and some of them, when crossed with clean-legged 

 mares, have proved excellent breeders." 



In previous editions of " The Complete Grazier " what is now 

 termed the Shire was denominated the Black Cart Horse, respecting 

 which the following interesting observations are retained : 



The Black Cart-Horse par excellence, the " Old English Black," 

 is mostly bred in Leicester, Northampton, and Lincoln, and some of 



Fig. 84. "Buscot Harold" (16,576), Champion Shire Stallion at London Shire 

 Horse Shows, 1898 and 1899, and at R.A.S.'s Shows, 1898 and 1899. 



The Property of Mr Alexander Henderson, M.P., Buscofc Park, Faringdon, Berks. 

 (From a photograph by Gambier Bolton, F.Z.S.) 



the neighbouring counties ; but the largest kind, and that principally 

 used in brewers' drays and other heavy road-work, is chiefly reared in 

 the fens of Lincolnshire. These counties have been from time 

 immemorial in possession of a celebrated breed of black horses, from 

 the lighter of which some of our heavy cavalry were formerly mounted. 

 An improvement upon the original stock is said to have been 

 effected by the late Earl of Chesterfield, who, during his embassy at 

 the Hague, sent over six Zetland mares to Bretby, his lordship's seat 

 in Derbyshire, whence their descendants found their way into Leicester- 

 shire, and were further improved by an importation of West Friesland 

 mares, by Mr. Bakewell. From a cross between these and a native 

 stallion, that gentleman produced some noble animals. By this mixture 

 of blood Mr. Bakewell got rid of much of the length and looseness of 



