232 EXTKACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR [Dec. 1894. 



REPORTS. 



The majority of the horses are of the kind known as 

 " bronchos," the descendants of the wild horses of the plains, 

 which stock is again derived from those brought over by Cortez. 

 They are small, wiry, not much in appearance, but untiring and 

 capable of covering great distances at their ordinary pace, which 

 is a hand gallop or canter. 



There are of course inany horses of other breeds in Texas, 

 especially in and near the towns, but the broncho is the Texan 

 horse "par excellence." In 1891 there were 1,452,306 horses 

 and mules in the State, and in 1892, 1,690,135, a considerable 

 increase. 



The mule is chiefly used for draught purposes owing to his 

 superior height and strength. 



In 1892 there were 12,972 donkeys, 268,390 goats, and 

 1 155,284 hogs in the State. 



[Foreign Office Beport, Annual Series^ I^o. 1431.] 



Horse Breeding in Austria-Hungary. 



In a recent report on the Agricultural Departments of Austria 

 and Hungary, Mr. F. L. Cartwright, Second Secretary to Her 

 Majesty's Embassy at Vienna, states that the duty of improving 

 as much as possible the breed of horses reared in the country 

 is one to which the Austrian Government attaches the greatest 

 importance. The Ministry of Agriculture expends large sums 

 yearly for this purpose ; in the Budget for 1894 the estimate is 

 put down at 150,000^., or over one-third of the total expenditure 

 of the Ministry for agricultural matters proper. The State stud 

 is at Radautz, where, on an average, over 1,200 horses are kept. 

 The report of 1888, moreover, mentions five State stallion depots 

 at Prague, Klosterbruck, Graz, Drobowyze, and Stadl. The 

 Ministry also grants prizes for horse races, and subventions to 

 societies and private individuals who keep stallions for breeding 

 purposes. 



The rearing of horses is in Hungary considered even more 

 important than it is in Austria. The Hungarian Government, 

 recognising the necessity of encouraging this source of national 

 wealth, and also to insure the proper supply of horses for 

 military purposes, expends, on an average, 400,000^. yearly in 

 encouraging this branch of agriculture. 



In Hungary, there are four State studs which supply stallions 

 to the four State stallion depots ; these latter have dependent 

 upon them 18 subsections scattered over the country. At the 

 " covering " time, stallions are drawn from these depots, and 

 taken to " covering stations " erected in such districts as may 

 be considered in need of them. In 1892 there were 884 parishes 

 which were supplied with " covering stations." 



