runners and horses of great value are bred by Messrs. Scbimpers, 

 van der Merwe, Wessels and many other breeders in the Orange 

 Free State. Both Sir John French and General Botha got their 

 favorite chargers from Mr. van der Merwe 's stud during the war 

 and feats done by representatives of these studs are worth to be 

 scrolled on the classic records of great horses ; it is a great pity no 

 fuller accounts are obtainable of the methods and registers of these 

 studs as they would act as strong advertisements and incentives to 

 breed on the best lines and produce the best. 



Among other methods for the furtherence of horse-breeding 

 may be mentioned the Government Studs, Experimental Stations 

 and Agricultural Schools ; all under the control of the Agricultural 

 Department, which although on a smaller scale is firmly based on 

 the lines of the Agricultural Department of the United States. ^^ 



The history of these institutions are like that of the country 

 itself, subjected to continual change and frequently total oblit- 

 eration; and it is impossible to give a continued account of them. 

 With the decline of the general horse stock that began after 1860. 

 the Thoroughbred fell into disuse for some time and Hackneys, 

 Clevelands and Roadslers were imported by the Government and 

 breeders and either stood at stud on some Government station or 

 other, were leased to great breeders or sold to them. 



The use of these breeds as sires with the light Cape mare soon 

 fell into disuse and are now only used either in a first instalment 

 crossing or as pure-breds. 



Government studs date back as early as 1804, when among 

 others "some Hantam mares improved by crosses with imported 

 English horses were purchased and Mr. van Reyneveld allowed the 

 services of a handsome stallion gratis."-- 



The Stud or Government farm as it was called contained 

 25,3081/2 acres and was situated in the Malmesbury district. In 

 1823 it was still in existence and at the command of Lord Charles 

 it was increased among others by two imported Thoroughbreds of 

 good pedigree and high spirit. The fee for covering mares was 

 six rixdollars. Since then we lose sight of this stud and it seems 

 the Government farms were abandoned and the great horse breed- 

 ers of those days : Cloete, van Reenen, van Zyl, Kotze, van Breda, 



(21) Compare Dr. William Macdonald The Transvaal Agrieidtural Journal 



Vol. IV. 



(22) Records of the Gape Colony Vol. XV. 



78 



