■(THE SHIRE DRAFT HORSE 



205 



Book, George E. Btow«, a prominent Shire breeder at 

 Aurora, states that as far back as he has been able to 

 learn the earliest advertisement of Shires by any im- 

 porter in western agricultural papers was in 1875. Up 

 to this time little progress had been made, but during the 

 eighties much improvement was obtained, although the 

 progress of the Shire in America has not been as rapid 

 as might be expected, considering the merits of the 

 breed. Among the more noted of the earlier importers 

 were: Burgess Brothers of Wenona, and George E. 

 Brown of Aurora, Illinois; W. M. Fields & Brother of 

 Cedar Falls, Iowa ; Galbraith Brothers of Janesville, Wis- 

 consin; Bell Brothers of Wooster, Ohio; and Powell 

 Brothers of Springboro, Pennsylvania. 



Famous show animals. — At many of the leading agri- 

 cultural and horse shows the exhibits of Shires have 

 attracted favorable comment. The following table gives 

 a few of the more noted prize-winning stallions and mares 

 at the International Live Stock Exhibition, Chicago : 



Stallions 



Mares 



Royal Grey, by Kingsway 



Southill Castle, by Castle-Bronwick 



Keith 

 Dan Patch, by Wellingborough 

 Farmers Grey, by Lake Lancer 



Moulton Sergeant 



Lockinge Hengist, by Lockinge Forester 



Coldham Surprise, by Normoor States- 

 man 

 Coldham Charm, by Artillery 



Shelford Pride, by Childwick Majestic 

 Prospect Fair Alice, by Nailston Coeur de 



Lion 

 Wrydeland's Sunshine, by Bury Blood 



Royal 

 Wallington Sunbfeam 3d, by Phenomenon 



3d 



Description of the Shire draft horse. — In general char- 

 acteristics this breed is similar to the Clydesdale, being 

 perhaps a little shorter in the legs and slightly larger. 

 This is the largest English draft breed, stallions weigh- 

 ing 1,800 to 2,000 pounds being of comparatively common 

 occurrence. The height averages from 16.2 to 17 hands 

 for stallions, with mares two inches less. The common 

 colors are bay, brown or black, with white markings on the 



