58 



AGRICULTURAL AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 

 Canadian Horses. 



The total number of horses in Canada enumerated at the 

 Census of 1891 was 1,470,573, indicating an increase of 411,214 

 animals during the preceding decade. Horse-breeding in the- 

 Dominion has, however, in recent years been largely aban- 

 doned, mainly owing to the increase of electric and motor 

 ears.* The effect is becoming apparent in a growing scarcity 

 of horses and unless farmers commence to breed soon there is 

 said to be a prospect of a dearth of good horses within two 

 years. It is, moreover, feared that the most saleable, the 

 young and sound mares and geldings, have been largely 

 disposed of to such an extent that old and unsound horses 

 are mainly to be found on the farms. 



Whilst the demand for horses within the Dominion has 

 thus decreased, the export of Canadian horses to the United 

 Kingdom has increased, as the following official figures 

 show. The number of horses imported from the Dominion 

 into this country in 1889 was 119; in 1890,225; in 1891 

 1,058; in 1892, 1,745; in 1893, 181 5; in 1894, 5,424; in 1895,. 

 12,903 ; and 11,852 in 1896 



In the last annual report on the cattle quarantine service 

 of Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, it is stated by the Chief 

 Inspector that, although the demand for Canadian horses in 

 Great Britain was good, the prices realised did not, owing to 

 a variety of causes, leave a large margin of profit to the 

 exporters. 



It is further mentioned that the quality of many of the 

 horses was not of a standard suitable for export ; too 

 many cheap inferior horses were bought at low prices, and 

 proved detrimental to the reputation of Canadian horses 

 generally. Good horses, well formed, with good hock and 



* Report of the Minister of Agriculture for the Dominion of Canada, 1896. 



