38 farmers' and mechanics' journal. 



There is many a generous steed to be found in Maine, which would 

 furnish good material to improve upon. On the other hand, 

 there are too many worthless dobbins among us, whose carcases 

 ought to be enriching instead of cumbering the soil. Their num- 

 ber, we believe, is increasing, instead of diminishing. This arises, 

 undoubtedly, from too little care in selecting the best stock to 

 breed from. VVe doubt if there can be found a first-rate full blood 

 or thorough-bred horse in the State. By thorough-bred, we mean, 

 one that has descended from Sires and Dams of pure English blood ; 

 whose pedigree can be traced for many generations back, through 

 Sires, &;c. ; whose excellence has been tested by the severest trials, 

 and whose performances stand on record, for all to examine. We 

 do not wish our farmers to breed race horses particularly. But 

 we do wish them to adopt some system, in the thing ; — to raise ani- 

 mals which shall have some fixed and definite character. 



How is it that the Arabians have preserved for so many ages, the 

 beauty, symmetry, speed and other excellencies of their Horses ? 

 By the most cautious and systematic mode of breeding. By contin- 

 ually selecting the best for the purpose. " The care taken by the 

 Arabs,"— says Loudon,--" is most remarkable. ^None, but stallions 

 of the finest form, and purest blood, are allowed access to their 

 mares, which is never permitted but in presence of a professional 

 witness or public officer, who attests the fact, records the name, 

 and signs the pedigree of each." 



How have the English estabhshed the fame of their different 

 breeds of Horses ? By first selecting such as would be suitable for 

 the purposes which they desire, and then, keeping up their charac- 

 ter by judicious crossings, with such as would improve, rather than 

 degenerate. 



In this way, Virginia has preserved the purity of the blood of her 

 turf-horse, and rivalled old England herself in speed. Had the 

 farmers of Maine taken more pains in selection, and avoided the 

 injurious practice of breeding in and in, as it is termed, or putting 

 those of the same family and nearest kin together, we should see a 

 much more elegant and spirited breed of this noble animal than 

 what we now do. There are a vast many colts raised in the State, 

 but we know of but very few farmers who pursue what has been 

 considered by those of other States, and countries, to be the most 

 judicious method. There are a few who do ; and they will event- 

 ually reap the reward of their care and labor, by the superior price 

 which their stock will command. — We shall pursue this subject 



