A PERIOD OF PROPOUND DEPRESSION 359 



Basting, Yuton, 111., and "William Hurt, Arrowsmith, 

 III., were others whose excellent stock and enthu- 

 siastic support of Percherons did much to encourage 

 him to make a start in dark days. 



Augstin's foundation stock was drawn largely 

 from Ed. Hodgson and William Hurt. He had some 

 of Hodgson's mares on lease for a time and also pur- 

 chased some. In this case, as in the one previously 

 cited, mistakes were avoided and good foundation 

 stock secured by heeding the counsel of experienced 

 breeders who had no ulterior motives. These cases 

 and hundrds of others which could bo given empha- 

 size the value of experienced advisors when begin- 

 ners are founding studs, and the extreme importance 

 of starting right. Countless breeders of live stock 

 have rushed in "where angels fear to tread" and 

 have found to their sorrow that buying breeding- 

 animals is vastly different from purchasing sugar or 

 salt. 



There are other important breeders in Illinois who 

 started during this period, but it is impossible to 

 consider all. The number increased materially, espe- 

 cially in counties where much stock was already 

 available. In McLean county Percheron breeders 

 increased to 81; in La Salle to 39; in Tazewell to 

 24; in Woodford to 18; in Fulton to 21; in Iroquois 

 to 19; in Livingston to 28; in Bureau to 29; and in 

 DuPage to 19. North central Illinois had laid the 

 foundation which makes it today the most central- 

 ized, and most heavily stocked Percheron breeding 

 district in the United States. 



