DISTRIBUTION AND STATISTICS OF PEODUCTION 489 



The evidence of Prof. John C. Burns of College 

 Station, Tex., is as follows : 



"The Percheron is decidedly the most popular 

 draft breed in the south, though it still lacks much of 

 being so popular as horses of the light type. A large 

 majority of southern farmers have long practiced a 

 system of farming, cotton raising, which permits of 

 the use of light-weight teams, both horses and mules, 

 •to good advantage. This accounts largely for the 

 preference that is given to horses of the light type. 

 Of course, prejudice also has played an important 

 part in keeping down the popularity of draft horses, 

 the general belief being that they can not withstand 

 the hot climate. 



"I have had an opportunity to observe the Perche- 

 ron under many different conditions in Texas. I have 

 seen registered stallions at the head of bands of 

 range mares ; stallions restricted to the stall and pad- 

 dock, that were being offered for public service; reg- 

 istered mares with foals at side; weanling, year- 

 lings, and two-year-olds in the process of develop- 

 ment on the farm ; and mares and geldings at work in 

 the field and on the road. Wherever these animals 

 were being given the care and attention to be expect- 

 ed from any good horseman, they were thriving and 

 proving satisfactory. The fact that the period of 

 hot weather in the south is long and the heat often 

 severe makes it even more important here than in 

 the north that Percheron mares and geldings be 

 worked by intelligent teamsters who are good care- 

 takers. From the middle of September until the 

 middle of May, as a rule, no better teams could be 

 desired, and during this period they easily excel 

 teams of light horses and light mules in much of 

 the work of the farm. But during the remaining 

 four months of hot weather extreme care must be 



