THE SITUATION IN GERMANY. 77 



As has been remarked, the condition in Germany is almost diamet- 

 rically opposite to that of Belgium, and differs from that of France 

 and England, as the latter countries produce both heavy and light 

 horses, while Belgium produces nothing but the draft horse, and Ger- 

 many only the kinds used for the carriage and army. 



For many years Germany has been trying to raise the best cavalry 

 horses, and in a certain degree she has succeeded. She to-day has 

 the best mounted army in the world, with perhaps the exception of 

 France. We are not surprised that Germany's course renders it neces- 

 sary for her to purchase her draft horses, but we are naturally aston- 

 ished to find that she imports more light horses than heavy ones. 

 This is done in the face of the fact that the stallions exported from 

 Oldenburgh, Hanover, and Holstein have contributed more, perhaps, 

 to the production of carriage horses and cavalry horses in other coun- 

 tries than those from any other places. 



I must confess my surprise when an investigation of the official 

 records revealed the fact that Germany now imports about 100,000 

 horses annually, and that they cost her in round numbers about 

 $20,000,000. Investigation shows that quite a large per cent of these 

 importations are of the lighter types, and to convey a better idea of 

 the situation I set out the importations in detail for 1895, these being 

 the latest statistics I could procure. They are compiled by the Impe- 

 rial Statistical Bureau of Germany, and published in the German 

 Year Book for 1896. In 1895 Germany imported as follows : 



The cost of these horses was about $18,700,000, or a little over $180 

 per head. 



These figures impress us all the more forcibly when we consider 

 that nearly one-third of the entire imports, i. e. , those coming from 

 Russia are small, inferior animals, being ponies that are used princi- 

 pally in the mines. These ponies are bought at a very low figure, but 

 to offset this in part the fact must not be ignored that a considerable 

 number of the horses coming from France and Belgium are draft 

 stallions for breeding purposes, and cost from $500 to $600 each. 



Whatever conclusion 'we may draw from the above figures, they 

 prove conclusively that Germany imports a large number of horses 

 and Davs a good round price for them. 



An enterprising firm of horse merchants, fully awake to the 

 demands of their country, has recently completed a very large and 



