42 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. 
are frequently knocked down cheap as dirt. Such 
sales are usually advertised in local newspapers and 
in the agricultural journals. 
The Clydesdale’s merits as a farm horse of well- 
earned repute deserve particular attention at our 
hands. The Clydesdale, as his name implies, comes to 
us from the south-west of Scotland. He is the result 
of various infusions of blood into the native Scotch 
mares—the first step in the rising road to fame being 
sometimes considered to have been taken when 
about two centuries ago one of the Dukes of 
Hamilton introduced a number of Flemish coaching 
stallions into that part of the country; but the 
effect or even the existence of this cross is denied 
by many of the best authorities.1_ However this may 
be, it cannot be denied that the Flemish stallion 
brought by John Paterson between 1715 and 1720 
into the district of Lochyoch exercised a distinct and 
lasting influence on the breed. There is no doubt 
that its present fame and excellence is due in the 
main to the unremitting endeavours of local farmers 
to improve their native breed. Previous to the 
existence of a Stud Book, a great deal of English 
carting and Shire blood was introduced to improve 
the native stock. One of the horses that has left 
his mark was Mr. Scott’s “ Blaze,” purchased by 
him in 1780, which horse, though a black, was 
credited with having a great deal of coaching blood 
in his veins. But if any stallion can claim to be the 
father of the breed it would be “Glancer” alas 
“ Thomson’s Black Horse,” bred about 1810. It is 
believed that the dam of “ Glancer” was related to 
1 Vide Retrospective volume Clydesdale Stud Book, 1878. 
