Chap. XX. BY THE ANCIENTS. 203 



and Caesar states that they paid high prices to merchants for 

 fine imported horses. 38 In regard to plants, Virgil speaks of 

 yearly culling the largest seeds ; and Celsus says, " where the 

 corn and crop is but small, Ave must pick out the best ears of 

 corn, and of them lay up our seed separately by itself." 39 



Coming down the stream of time, we may be brief. At about 

 the beginning of the ninth century Charlemagne expressly 

 ordered his officers to take great care of his stallions; and if 

 any proved bad or old, to forewarn him in good time before they 

 were put to the mares. 40 Even in a country so little civilised 

 as Ireland during the ninth century, it would appear from some 

 ancient verses, 41 describing a ransom demanded by Cormac, that 

 animals from particular places, or having a particular character, 

 were valued. Thus it is said, — 



Two pigs of the pigs of Mac Lir, 



A ram and ewe both round and red, 



I brought with me from Aengus. 



I brought with me a stallion and a mare 



From the beautiful stud of Manannan, 



A bull and a white cow from Druim Cain. 



Athelstan, in 930, received as a present from Germany, running- 

 horses; and he prohibited the exportation of English horses. 

 King John imported "one hundred chosen stallions from 

 Flanders." 42 On June 16th, 1305, the Prince of Wales wrote 

 to the Archbishop of Canterbury, begging for the loan of any 

 choice stallion, and promising its return at the end of the 

 season. 43 There are numerous records at ancient periods in 

 English history of the importation of choice animals of various 

 kinds, and of foolish laws against their exportation. In the 

 reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. it was ordered that the 

 magistrates, at Michaelmas, should scour the heaths and com- 

 mons, and destroy all mares beneath a certain size. 44 Some of 

 our earlier kings passed laws against the slaughtering rams of any 

 good breed before they were seven years old, so that they might 



38 Reynier, < De TEconomie des I860 p 11 



Celtes,' 1818, pp. 487, 503. 42 ' CoL Hamilton Smith, 'Nat. 



" Le Couteur on Wheat, p. 15. Library/ vol. xii., Horses, pp. 135, 140. 



Michel, < Des Haras,' 1861, p. 84. « Michel> < Des Haras/ p> 90- 



Sir W. Wilde, an 'Essay on Un- « Mr Baker? < History of the Horse,' 



manufactured Animal Remains,' &c, < Veterinary,' vol. xiii. p. 423. 



