18 



REPORT OF SPECIAL INVESTIG.^TION 



No. 65 



Kent — Concl uded. 



Maees Bked to Different CLAt-<ES of Stallions. 



The public meeting for the county of Kent was held at Chatham on 

 November 2nd. Eepresentatives were present from nearly every part of the 

 county. The meeting was unanimously in favor of an Inspection Act in 

 regard to pedigree and individuality, and also expressed an opinion that 

 syndicating of stallions was all right provided good individuals were pur- 

 chased at proper prices. It was suggested that more attention be paid to 

 subjects relating to the horse industry at Farmers' Institute meetings, and 

 that Agricultural Societies should provide a separate class for each breed of 

 horses. 



Elgin. 



Southwold Township has nine stallions, made up as follows : Tiiree 

 Clydesdales, one Shire, a Percheron, two Roadsters (one a grade), a Thorough- 

 bred and a coach horse. All are sound, and rate about the average, with 

 two considerably above. Two were far advanced in years, and of the rest, 

 five had travelled for the first time. Ten to sixteen dollars are the service 

 fee^, with one standing at |20. Draught, general purpose, and Roadster are 

 the general types of the mares kept, which have an average weight of l,2tlO 

 lbs., an average age of 7 years, and being in quality fair. 



Dunwich Township has some 1,200 mares of a heavier type, weighing 

 1,350 lbs. on the average, about 2 per cent, being lighter in build. Their 

 quality is reported good, and age averages 5 years. The heavier type of mares 

 is responsible for a corresponding increase in the proportion of sires of that 

 stamp kept, which is 5 Clydes, a Percheron, a Hackney, and two Thorough- 

 breds (one a grade). Two of these hor.ses are aged; the ages of the others 

 range from 2 to 8 years. All pass muster as sound. Three of the horses are 

 newcomers to this district. Fees charged vary from |10 to $17 with one at 

 $20. 



Ten stallions are on the routes in Yarmouth Township, where the pre- 

 vailing type of mares is general purpose and Roadster, with a few draughts. 

 The average weight of mares is 1,100 lbs., average age 8 years, and the num- 

 ber 1,200, their quality being only fair. The sires run pretty much to the 

 lighter types, there being only one Clydesdale to seven Roadsters, a Thor- 

 oughbred, and a French Canadian. With two exceptions they are all sound, 

 but some are up in years. |25 are the service fees in two cases for Road- 

 sters, |12 to fl5 being the usual fee charged. 



Malahide is another township that favors the lighter breeds, the average 

 weight of the mares being not more than 1,000 lbs., and they are of Hackney 



2a H.B. 



