A PERIOD OF PEOFOUND DBPEESSION 363 



L. H. Humbert was one of the leading breeders in 

 southern Iowa. French himself, he selected some 

 very good breeding stock in the Perche. He had 

 started before the depression, had faith in the final 

 outcome, and held to his good stock through the 

 worst years. He ranked fourth in Iowa in number 

 of animals bred during this decade, sold most of his 

 surplus locally, and did much to encourage others to 

 keep on. 



M. L. Ayres, like Mr. Humbert, had started before 

 the hard times. He was a rugged farmer, with de- 

 cided ideas regarding the values of good horses; he 

 hung tenaciously to his best stock, although the 

 panic crippled him to a considerable extent finan- 

 cially. Many of the stallions produced by him dur- 

 ing the '90 's were castrated, and a great many of 

 the mares sold without registration. He kept the 

 best, however, and was in a sound position to go on 

 when times changed for the better. He handled good 

 horses and was one of the best feeders Iowa has 

 ever had engaged in the development of Pereherons. 

 The best sire he used during this period was Said 

 4825 (674). Massena 26143 (40251) and Blande 

 29259 (36577) were valuable sires used a little later. 

 Blande was a son of Brilliant 3d and had been used 

 some time in Ernest Perriot's stud. Mr. Ayres 

 has undoubtedly exerted a greater influence on Per- 

 cheron breeding than any other man in southwestern 

 Iowa. He bought and developed a good many 

 American-bred colts and always insisted that the 

 colts he bought in the district near Blandinsville, 



