HORSES FOR HEAVY DRAUGHT. 613 



and waggons are in use. When animals of the largest size 

 are in demand, and the highest prices are paid for them, it 

 becomes the interest of breeders to employ large stallions, 

 and use every means to favour the development of size in 

 individuals. In the counties of Lincoln and Cambridge, 

 whence the great London drays are chiefly supplied, a breeder 

 measures his success by the stature of the individuals which 

 he is able to rear. At the age of two years and a half, the 

 colts are often seventeen hands high. They are bought at 

 this age by graziers near the capital, and used in the light 

 work of the plough until four years old, when they are fit for 

 the services to which they are destined, and disposed of at 

 high prices. 



But the great English Black Horse, with all his existing 

 defects of temperament and form, undoubtedly affords the 

 basis of a valuable breed of horses, suited to the labour of 

 the fields, and heavy draught of every kind. But, in order 

 that he may be brought to the degree of improvement of 

 which he is capable, sound opinions must prevail regarding 

 the properties required in a horse of draught, and the means 

 of using his powers. Strength and weight are, doubtless, 

 an essential requisite in this class of horses : but the strength 

 required is that which is produced by a just conformation of 

 parts, and not by mere weight of body. A Draught-Horse 

 should, along with the form indicative of physical strength, 

 possess length and depth of the posterior extremities, with 

 the form of shoulder which shall allow him to step out freely. 

 In these points the English Black Horse is eminently defec- 

 tive, and his pace, accordingly, is slower than that perhaps 

 of any other horse of the same class in Europe. Neverthe- 

 less, a great improvement has recently been effected on the 

 breed, which, it is to be trusted, will be progressive. 



II. BREEDS OF THE NORTH-EASTERN COUNTIES. The 

 Black Horse, it has been seen, is widely spread over the 

 central and southern counties of England, extending from 



