The Communal stallions are sold to the chiefs of the 

 agricultural divisions known as Communes at prices varying 

 from ^30 to ;^50, payable in four annual instalments. Each 

 Commune undertakes to maintain its stalHon at its ovim 

 expense and in a suitable manner, the proper discha;rge of its 

 obligations being the care of one or two Government officials. 

 The stalHon is available for service within the limits of the 

 Commune at a maximum fee of two florins (four shillings). In 

 one part of Hungary the method of service is similar to that in 

 vogue in this country ; in another it is usual to turn out the 

 stallion with the mares, which may not number more than 

 eighty-eight. 



Should the horse not be kept in a proper manner, he is, 

 after repeated cautions, liable to be withdrawn from the 

 Commune at the end of the third year, and the Commune 

 forfeits the instalments of the price paid. If the stallion dies 

 or fails as a stock-getter during the first three years, the 

 authorities replace him by another. At the end of the third 

 year he becomes the property of the Commune, which is then 

 able to dispose of him as it pleases. Many Communes believe 

 it advantageous to change their stallion every three years, 

 which they can do in accordance with the regulation that 

 makes him then their own property. The wisdom of this step 

 of course depends upon circumstances. 



The estimates for the Hungarian Horse-Breeding Depart- 

 ment for the year 1897 amounted to £2^-^, ^23- 



38 



