THE BELGIAN 1 31 



du Fosteau (29718), champion of 1905 ; Bienfait de Masnuy 

 (44718), champion of 1910; Paul (46036), champion of 191 1 ; 

 and Farceur (20730). 



Prices paid for Belgian horses have only reached high levels 

 in recent years. In 1889 Jupiter (126) was purchased for ^1200, 

 the top price for a Belgian up to that time. In 1900 the stallion 

 Citoyen was bought by a company in Limburg for ^3300. In 



1903 Beau Lys was bought by Liege breeders for ^4500. In 



1904 another group of breeders purchased the stallion Nickel for 

 ^5400. The above sales all took place in Belgium. In 1909, at a 

 sale of Souers and Son of Indiana, twenty-nine Belgians brought 

 ^15,885, an average of ^548 each. The most notable sale of the 

 breed took place on October 16, 191 7, at Hudson, Iowa, at the 

 sale of WiUiam Crownover. The stallion Farceur 7332 (72924), 

 by Bayard de Ruyen (32678), was sold to C. G. Good of Iowa 

 for ^47,500. The get of Farceur averaged ^1475. Thirty-five 

 mares brought ^39,425, an average of ^i 127. Eighteen stallions, 

 including Farceur, averaged ^3297. A weanling stallion by Far- 

 ceur brought ^1875. The highest price for a mare by Farceur was 

 ^2900. At Huntertown, Indiana, on February 15, 1919, Daron, 

 a stallion foaled in 191 1, sold for ^10,500 to William Bleke. 



The distribution of Belgian draft horses is very widespread. 

 Germany has been a prominent buyer, while England, Holland, 

 Sweden, France, Denmark, Austria, and the United States have 

 buyers in the Belgian market. In 1903 more than 300 were shipped 

 to the United States. At the 1904 Brussels show an official repre- 

 sentative of the Hungarian government purchased 10 stallions, in- 

 cluding 6 first-prize winners. In the United States the Belgian 

 has been longest known in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Stallions 

 and grades are, however, becoming distributed over the Mississippi 

 Valley states north of the Ohio, wherever the heavy draft horse is 

 needed, and the breed is steadily gaining in favor. 



Organizations for promoting Belgian horses exist in Belgium 

 and the United States. The official draft-horse society of Bel- 

 gium {Le cheval de trait Beige) was founded in 1886. The draft 

 horse is the only breed in Belgium officially promoted by the 

 government, and this society was organized (i) to encourage the 

 breeding of native horg^^^J)^^ ^hg,. or^^zation of annual National 



