GREAT BRITAIN. 297 



depends in a great measure on the timely arrival of the mon- 

 soon, and, as droughts are prevalent, horse breeding suffers 

 as a consequence. Until 1876 the government kept its own 

 studs, but the results were so poor that this method was 

 abandoned and an entirely new system introduced. At pres- 

 ent rural studs and government stallions are maintained, the 

 latter being sent to depots. The purpose of these measures 

 was to obtain good cavalry remounts. The mares are inspected 

 and if declared fit for breeding are branded "V I" (veteri- 

 nary inspection) on one shoulder and are served by the 

 government stallions free of charge. Not all parts of India 

 are by any means adapted to horse breeding, the famine 

 districts being in this respect absolutely excluded. Breeding 

 flourishes most in the northwestern provinces of Punjab, 

 Beluchistan, and Sind, and in Deccan, of the Bombay presi- 

 dency. 



Table showing number of stallions kept by the govern- 

 ment, together with the number of mares served by them in 

 1898-99 : 



Full-sized types : 



Thoroughbreds and three-fourth breds. _ 103 



English half -breds and Norf oiks 58 



Hackney.-- : 44 



Roadster 2 



Australian 47 



Arabs 131 



Local breeds 5 



Total stallions 390 



Ponies : 



Arab 17 



Local breeds -. 1 



Total pony stallions 18 



Total stallions, including pony stallions 408 



Jacks 406 



Number of mares 15,694 



The English thoroughbred has done good work in the im- 

 provement of the races in India wherever good specimens 

 were employed, but it has become unpopular owing to the 

 poor specimens, so that Australian thoroughbreds are now 

 preferred. Hackneys have been utilized to increase the size 

 of the native breeds, but the products soon become too bulky 



