26 CANADIAN TUEF KECOLLEOTIONS 



dence has been amply rewarded. Stylish, well-bred 

 horses were never worth more money in the Canadian 

 market than they are at the present time. I am not 

 speaking of speed. That quality, when there is sufficienet 

 of it, commands a fancy price, but there is a lottery 

 about the game of breeding for speed alone that does 

 not pay the farmer to engage in. Stylish matched pairs, 

 well-bred saddle horses, high steppers, stout cobs and 

 sound work horses command high prices all the year 

 round. There is, therefore, no branch of farm industry 

 which promises more successful results. 



The present satisfactory condition of the horse trade 

 in Ontario is due largely to the energy and skill of those 

 engaged in it. For more than a quarter of a century the 

 writer advocated government assistance towards the de- 

 velopment of the industry. Although there were many 

 ardent admirers of the horse in the local Parliament it 

 was not possible to secure official action. It was only 

 when the present Ontario Government came into power 

 that a move was made. Commissioners were appointed 

 who visited all parts of the province and made exhaus- 

 tive enquiries into existing conditions. The statistics 

 gathered by them have provided the Department of 

 Agriculture with much valuable information and strong 

 hopes are now entertained that this important ques- 

 tion will be dealt with in that progressive spirit which 

 characteizes the government of Sir James P. Whitney. 



County Agricultural Societies should be assisted in 

 offering liberal cash premiums for the best specimens of 

 the different breed of horses. The prize lists should 

 recognize every class and the premium money offered 

 should be of sufficient value to tempt breeders to compete. 

 The competition in each county should be confined to 

 animals bred in that particular municipality so as to 

 prevent the possibility of one or two extra rare speci- 

 mens being permitted to sweep the board in other coun- 

 ties and thus discourage competition in those sections. 

 The prize lists should recognize stallions, broodmares, 

 yearlings, two-year-olds, three-year-olds and all ages. 



