THE NEW CENTURY DAWNS AUSPICIOUSLY 427 



average so much scale as the Illinois and Iowa 

 horses. 



Progress in Kansas. — Kansas, fourth in Perche- 

 ron breeding, with 319 breeders by 1910, bred a total 

 of 2,039 Percherons during this period. Slower 

 progress was made in this state than in Illinois, 

 Iowa or Ohio. This was due in part to the fact 

 that the farmers had been harder hit by years of 

 depression, and also to the fact that they had se- 

 vere drouths and short crops in 1902 and 1904. 

 The steadily increasing demand for draft horses for 

 farm use was a stimulant, and the sale of many im- 

 ported stallions in the Sunflower State by strong 

 importing firms hastened the liking of Percheron 

 sires. 



J. C. & J. W. Eobison, whose first Percheron 

 mares were purchased in 1897, had the leading 

 stud in Kansas during this period. The first mare 

 purchased was Rosalie 4894, a daughter of Nyanza 

 869. J. C. Eobison bought her from Henry Avery, 

 Wakefield, Kans., and at the time he was there 

 Mr. Avery offered to let him take one or all of the 

 mares at $100 each. This band of mares contained 

 several daughters of Brilliant 3d and many others 

 of excellent breeding, but the horses were then lack- 

 ing in size and Mr. Eobison was entirely un- 

 acquainted with Brilliant 3d's reputation as a sire. 

 He finally purchased the one mare with considerable 

 trepidation, but has regretted often since that he 

 did not buy the entire. band. 



In the spring of 1900 J. C. Eobison bought for 



