A PERIOD OF PROPOUND DEPRESSION 341 



were located in the territory of the Mississippi and 

 Missouri valleys. Nearly half of them were in the 

 states of Illinois and Iowa, which explains why these 

 two states now contribute 42 percent of all Perche- 

 rons bred in America. 



One hundred and fifty-nine mares were imported 

 and 114 bred in America between 1871 and 1880; 

 2,566 were imported and 2,089 bred in America be- 

 tween 1881 and 1890. . Eoughly speaking, there were 

 approximately 5,000 Percheron mares available in 

 1891, yet in the decade we are considering only 4,897 

 stallions and 4,990 mares, eventually recorded, were 

 foaled, and more than 1,000 of these were not re- 

 corded until long after the close of the decade. The 

 total number of recorded American-bred Percherons 

 produced in the 10 years was but 9,887, or an average 

 of less than two colts per mare in 10 years for the 

 Percheron mares owned by breeders in 1891. In 

 view of the fact that mares in farmers' hands will 

 normally average two colts every three years it is 

 evident that there was enormous waste of Percheron 

 resources during this period. The mares averaged 

 but one colt each five years. What actually occurred 

 was refusal or neglect of farmers and breeders to 

 breed their mares, and the castration of purebred 

 stallion colts. Besides, hundreds of mares were sold 

 without registration, for work purposes only, and all 

 traces of them were subsequently lost. 



Incalculable damage to constructive breeding of 

 Percherons resulted from the stagnation. Carefully 

 selected brood mares, which had been well cared for 



