1904.] 



Live Stock in Belgium. 



23 



and a second of 400 francs (£16). There may be awarded 

 further extra prizes for stallions of three years, and four 

 vears and over, according to each group of five stallions 

 approved of by the committee, in each of these two classes. 



In order to retain in the country the stallions passed as the 

 best by the committees of examination, there may be awarded 

 a maintenance bounty of 700 francs (£2$) to the owner of every 

 stallion to which has been awarded, at at least one previous 

 annual show, a first competition prize in the class of stallions 

 of not less than four years old. This prize is increased by £4. 

 for stallions to which a provincial prize has been awarded. A 

 maintenance prize of £20 may also be given to the owner 

 of the stallion to which has been awarded, during two years, a 

 second competition prize, in the class of stallions of four years 

 and over. 



When the committees of examination consider a stallion 

 to which a maintenance prize has been awarded to be of 

 exceptional value, they can nominate it to compete for a bounty 

 of ^240 payable by five annual instalments so long as the horse 

 remains approved by the committee of examination, and retains 

 its value. In the event of a stallion, to which a bounty of £240 

 has been awarded, being sold out of the country, the instal- 

 ments already paid must in every case be returned to the 

 Department, either by the present owner, or by the original 

 possessor. At the end of the five years, the owner of a stallion 

 which has obtained a bounty of ^240, if it remains approved, 

 can continue to enjoy an annual maintenance prize, the amount 

 of which may vary from ,£24 to £32. 



Finally, there is arranged in each province an annual pro- 

 vincial competition for the stallions which have obtained a prize 

 in the class of four years and over, or a second prize in, one of 

 the shows of the year or of the preceding year ; there are two 

 prizes of £36 and £28. 



The examination of stallions is followed, sometimes in the 

 same year, but generally in the succeeding year, by shows of 

 foals and of fillies of two and three years, and by shows of 

 brood mares. Considerable prizes are awarded at these different 

 shows. Maintenance bounties may also be awarded to the 

 owners of the best brood mares. 



