3-4 REPORT OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION No. 65 



OXFORD. 



There are a number of very good imported heavy stalliona and mares in 

 West Oxford township; also some good Hackneys. In spite of this many 

 farmers are using some of the grade sires to be found here, for one of which, 

 a grade Clydesdale, only $6, is asked for service fee. The usual range, how- 

 ever, is from $10 to |15, and one as high as $20. Among those on service 

 are six pure-bred Clydesdales, one grade Clydesdale, two Hackneys, three 

 grade Carriage horses, four Roadster grades, and a Coach grade. The 

 majority are sound, but some are well up in years, .one as old as 21 years. In 

 this township are a number of very good Clydesdale fillies imported this year, 

 and the average type and quality of the mares in the township, estimated at 

 680, is fairly good, average weight being 1,200 Ibs. 



The number of stallions in North Norwich township is not large, con- 

 sisting of three, all grades, one respectively of Standard-bred, French, and 

 Clydesdale blood. They are all sound. Eight and ten dollars are the ser- 

 vice fees charged. Mares are only a fair, lot, in number 250 and not of a 

 distinctive type. 



Stallions are more numerous in South Norwich township, among them 

 being a good Clydesdale, Hacknej and Percheron. Here, too, we find three 

 g-rade sires, a Belgian, a general purpose, and a cross-bred Clydesdale and 

 Shire. The service fees are as low as $8, and from $10 to $15 as the gen- 

 eral run. The mares here are 420 in number, of a fair type and quality in 

 general, while there are some 20 or 30 imported fillies to be found in the 

 township, which are a very good lot, too good for some of the stallions used, 

 so the Inspectors say. 



Nineteen stallions travel in Dereham township, no less than eight be- 

 ing grades, and some of them of an inferior tjpe, not to mention unsound- 

 ness. Among them are four pure-bred Clydesdales, one Shire, one Thorough- 

 bred, four Roadsters, and a Percheron; while the grades are six Roadsters, 

 one -Belgian and a Clydesdale. The service fees range from eight to fifteen 

 dollars, the lowest, of course, for grades. Mares are of various types, being 

 : only fair in quality, and evidently too many are being bred to poor sires. 



There is an improvement of quality in the sires in North Oxford town- 

 ship, although only four in all, all being pure-breds, three Clydesdales and 

 one a Standard-bred; all, .too, are sound. From $10 to $15 are the service 

 fees charged. Mares share in the improvement in qualitj which is fair, and 

 there are a few very nice imported Clydesdale fillies and some Hackney 

 fillies in the township. 



"There are some useful animals in Blenheim township," say the In- 

 spectors, "and most of the farmers seem to be breeding heavy horses and 

 showing good judgment in the selection of sires." Out of the seven stal- 

 lions found here, however, there are only three pure-breds (two Cljdesdale 

 and a Percheron) to four grades (two of Clydesdale, one of Roadster, and 

 one of Carriage blood). Here fees run from $8 to $15. There are some very 

 good mares to be found in the township, the average weight being 1,250 Ibs,., 

 and average quality fair. 



With the exception of a grade Roadster all the ten stallions found in 

 Woodstock and the adjoining township of Blandford are registered. Quite 

 a variety of sires are kept, ranging from two Clydesdales, fhree Standard- 

 t)reds, a Thoroughbred, a Hackney, and an Arabian, to a Shetland poin . 

 With a 'single exception thej are sound, though not grading as high in 

 quality and conformation as they might, a fact commented on by the Inspec- 

 tors, who found some useful mares here, including a few imported Clydes- 

 dales. The general run of mares average 1,200 Ibs., and are fair in type and 

 Duality. 



3a H.B 



