5o FOREIGN BREEDS OF HORSES. 



horse, were anxious to purchase him ; but the Cossack replied that " All the 

 gold in the world should not separate him from his friend, his brother *." 



In Southern and Western Russia, and also in Poland, the breeding of horses 

 and cattle has lately occupied the attention of the great land proprietors, and 

 has constituted a very considerable part of their annual income. There is 

 scarcely now a signorial residence to which there is not attached a vast court, 

 in four large divisions, and surrounded by stables. In each of the angles of this 

 court is a passage leading to beautiful and extensive pasture-grounds, divided 

 into equal compartments, and all of them having convenient sheds, under which 

 the horses may shelter themselves from the rain or the sun. From these studs 

 a larger kind of horse than that of the Cossacks is principally supplied, and 

 more fit for the regular cavalry troops, and also for pleasure and parade, than 

 common use. The remounts of the principal houses in Germany are derived 

 hence ; and from the same source the great fairs in the different states of the 

 German empire are supplied^. 



The stud of the Russian Countess Orloff Tshesmensky in the province of 

 Walonese contains 1320 horses, Arabs, English, natives, and others. The ground 

 attached to it amounts to nearly 1100 acres; and the number of grooms, 

 labourers, and others is more than 4000. The sum realised by the sale of horses 

 is of considerable annual amount ; and they are disposed of not only on the 

 spot itself, but in the regular markets, both of St. Petersburgh and Moscow. 



THE ICELAND HORSE. 

 There are numerous troops of horses in this cold and inhospitable country, 

 descended, according to Mr. Anderson, from the Norwegian horse, but, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Horrebow, being of Scottish origin. They are very small, strong, 

 and swift. There are thousands of them in the mountains which never enter a 

 stable : but instinct or habit has taught them to scrape away the snow, or break 

 the ice, in search of their scanty food. A few are usually kept in the stable j 

 but when the peasant wants more he catches as many as he needs, and shoes 

 them himself, and that sometimes with a sheep's horn J. 



THE LAPLAND HORSE. 

 This animal, according to Berenger, is small, hut active and willing — some- 

 what eager and impatient, but free from vice. lie is used only in the winter 

 season, when he is employed in drawing sledges over the snow, and transporting 

 wood, forage, and other necessaries, which in the summer are all conveyed in 



* Journal des Haras, Jan. 1337, p. 256. nagerie for bears of the rarest and most beau- 

 t " The breeding of cattle is also zealously tiful colours, and yielding the choicest furs, 

 and profitably pursued. The cow-houses form This speculation is a very profitable one. A 

 the greater portion of the other buildings at- cub of six months old, with black hair pointed 

 tached to the mansion. The largest of these with silver white, yields a very light skin and 

 is destined for the milch cows, and another fur, and which will obtain a considerable price, 

 square building serves for a milking house, especially if there are others of the same fiue- 

 These dairies are disposed and fitted up like ness and variegated colour sufficient to make a 

 those in Switzerland. In the middle is a jet pelisse. A garment of this kind will some- 

 of water. Slabs or tables of marble occupy times be sold for ^600 or ifilOOO. Tho 

 every side, and a slight inclination of the floor skins of the old bears are employed for car- 

 permits the observance of the greatest possible pets, or liniujs of carriages, and the most sup- 

 cleanliness. An upper story serves for the pie of them form the clothing of the coach- 

 manufacture of different kinds of cheese, which men." — Journal des Haras. Although this 

 are made in imitation of, and sometimes equal note refers to cattle and hears, it does not 

 those which are most esteemed in other parts wander from the design of the Farmer's Series, 

 of Europe. since it describes the singular agricultural 

 " There is another space or court inclosed pursuits of the Russian and Polish noblemen, 

 with walls, and with little buildings closed % Kerguelen's Voyage to the North, 

 with iron barB. This is destined to bo a me- 



