64 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. 
outlay. Many strong, short-legged mares, with 
quality, which are admirably adapted for useful 
service on the farm, may be seen in the London 
omnibuses and trams; these would in all proba- 
bility breed excellent carriage horses, half-bred stock, 
and even hunters. There are always a certain 
number of such mares that turn out to be in foal, 
bought by the omnibus and tram companies, and 
such can often be cheaply bought. I know of one 
place near London to which a company sent down 
the mares that turned out to be in foal, where they 
were kept till they had foaled, all the foals being 
knocked on the head and the mares got ready for 
work again. Such treatment is expensive and 
wasteful, and did farmers look out for like oppor- 
tunities, it would be better for both parties. 
It may be noticed that many farmers are very 
partial to hackney blood. I have seen hackney 
sires used extensively on all sorts of mares in the 
district in which I live. The neat looks, the fine 
action, and compact strength of one of these cocky 
little cobs, and his power of giving a little sub- 
stance—though too often without size,—combined 
with a low service fee, have great attractions for the 
Yorkshireman and others; but J cannot believe that 
this sort of breeding is lucrative unless in a dale or 
hilly district where ponies and little horses are in 
request. Nor do I believe the present rage for 
fashionable hackneys will last long enough to justify 
a farmer with slender means in attempting to breed 
pure-bred hackney stock. It is in my judgment a 
fashion that cannot continue at its present level. 
The hackney: What is he at his best? When got 
