416 A HISTORY OP THE PERCHERON HORSE 



although Thomas Singmaster, brother of C. F., also 

 carried on extensive breeding operations. 



The heavy importations made by the Singmasters 

 led them to test out a large number of different sires, 

 and more than 25 were in service during this period. 

 "While this practice resulted in the production of a 

 large number of high-class Percherons, it did not 

 lead to the development of any sires of outstanding 

 reputation. Bataclan 21264 (43368) was given more 

 liberal opportunities in the stud than most of his 

 contemporaries, and he subsequently sired a number 

 of purebred colts in the studs of J. H. Letts and 

 Brockway & Sons. Niagara 32338 (48905) was also 

 used rather extensively and left many good colts at 

 Maple Grove in 1905 and 1906. He later saw service 

 in the stud of 0. L. Thisler of Kansas, and still later 

 went to P. W. Cox & Sons. A number of mares bred 

 to him were sold to Glover & Son of North Dakota, 

 where they contributed to the success of their stud. 



While no sires of nation-wide reputation were used 

 in the Singmaster studs during this period, the type 

 was materially improved by persistent selection of 

 the best mares and by carefully mating them to 

 such sires as seemed to be best fitted to overcome 

 deficiencies. Eelatively little was done in the way 

 of showyard exhibitions until 1907, but from that 

 time on the Singmaster stud was most strongly rep- 

 resented in the leading shows. The persistent, wide- 

 spread advertising done by this firm and the ex- 

 tensive sales made affected most favorably draft 

 horse development in all sections, and a large num- 



