THE NEW CENTURY DAWNS AUSPICIOUSLY 387 



common stock. The waves set in motion by the In- 

 ternational extended to the state fairs, which broad- 

 ened their classifications and increased greatly their 

 exhibits of horses. 



All of these factors combined to focus public at- 

 tention upon horse breeding, particularly upon the 

 sort of breeding stock which would increase the size 

 and weight of the common class of horses. The 

 draft breeds all reaped increasing benefit, the Per- 

 cheron, already the most widely distributed, best 

 known and most popular draft horse in the United 

 States, to the largest degree. 



The Actual Increase. — In 1900 there were 1,634 

 breeders of Percherons in the United States ; by 1910 

 the number had increased to 5,338. Between 1890 

 and 1900 only 8,807 American-bred Percherons and 

 1,490 imported Percherons were recorded. Between 

 1901 and 1910 inclusive 31,900 Anaerican-bred and 

 10,048 imported Percherons were recorded. In 

 round numbers there were approximately 9,000 Per- 

 cheron mares available for breeding in 1901. These 

 mares, their filly foals and such females as were im- 

 ported during the decade were responsible for the 

 31,900 Anaerican-bred animals recorded during this 

 period — only about 3 American-bred colts during the 

 10 years for each Percheron mare. As this is below 

 the normal production it shows that many mares 

 were not bred and that many of the colts which 

 were foaled were never recorded. Many were the 

 men, particularly the smaller breeders, who had so 

 lost faith in horse breeding by reason of the long- 



