98 



No. 65 



Northumberland Continued. 



The tendency of the sires in Cramabe township is towards the light 

 breeds, there , being six Standard-breds, two Hackneys, two Clydesdales, a 

 Shire and two Percherons. It cannot be said that the average is good, 

 although there are a few horses of nice quality, and the stud fees are not 

 lower than $10 and as high as $15 and $25. The mares here do not scale 

 over 1,200 Ibs. on the average, and are rather an inferior class. "There is 

 much room for improvement," say the Inspectors, and a hesitancy on the 

 part of many farmers to breed their best mares seems to be one of the diffi- 

 culties. Stallion inspection and more education along the lines of systematic 

 breeding are among the suggested means of improvement. 



There are rather more "heavy sires in Percy and Seymour townships 

 than in the last named, the proportion of heavy to light being about equal. 

 There is considerable unsoundness, however, reported and average quality is 

 not very high. Minimum stud fees are $5 in one case, and the general 

 amount is from $8 to $16. Mares are, with few exceptions not of any parti- 

 cular type. The majority of the heavier class lack size and the lighter ones 

 substance. Breeders in this section, as a rule, are ready to favor any legis- 

 lation that will encourage improvement i'n stallions imported. 



In too many cases much injury is being caused by inferior registered 

 and imported stallions which do not compare as favorably as they should 

 with the grade, either individually or by their progeny. 



In Brighton and Murray townships more young mares have been bred 

 lately, but there are still too many unsound and inferior ones being bred for 

 improvement to be rapid. Their type is mixed, being on the average not 

 above 1,100 Ibs. and quality is medium. There are nine grade stallions in 

 this section to three pure-breds, these latter being all Clydesdales. The 

 grades are made up of the following breeding ; Clydesdales four. Percheron 

 one, Standard-breds three (one, it is claimed, being entitled to record), and 

 French one. The highest service fee is $10 and lowest $5. Two, at least, 

 are unsound. 



STALLIONS. 



7a H.B. 



