Horse-breeding in Austria-Hungary. 



457 



from private breeders. As regards receipts, it was estimated 

 that these would amount in 1897 to about £28,000, chiefly 

 from covering fees. These receipts are paid by the Ministry 

 of Agriculture into the Ministry of Finance. 



There are in Austria two State studs, at Radautz and 

 Piber, their object being to provide stallions for use 

 throughout the country. These stallions are first sent to the 

 central depots, and thence distributed to the various covering 

 stations, where they remain during the season. Care is taken 

 that each stallion should be suited to the requirements of the 

 district where its services are to be placed at the disposal of 

 farmers and private breeders. For the use of the country 

 stallions a fee of from one to ten guldens (is. 8d. to 16s. 8d.) 

 is usually charged per mare ; but in some districts, where 

 the peasants are very poor, and the breed of horses is in 

 danger of degenerating, mares may be covered by State 

 stallions free of charge. 



A committee of inquiry, sitting in 1876, divided the whole 

 Cis-Leithan territory into five districts, with a view to the 

 distribution of stallions especially suited to existing local 

 breeds. As far as possible, the local breeds were to be kept 

 pure, but the character of the country rendered it in some 

 cases desirable to utilise other special breeds. 



The management of the State studs, stallion depots, and 

 covering stations is entrusted to a Military Department — 

 which is an integral part of the standing army. This 

 department is subordinated to the Ministry of War in matters 

 purely military ; to the Ministry of Agriculture as regards 

 everything connected with the horse-breeding establish- 

 ments ; and to the commander of the local military division in 

 matters of discipline. Only the purely agricultural part of 

 the stud farms is worked by civilians — a civil organisation 

 having been tried and failed, owing to constant changes 

 amongst the employes, who were attracted by higher wages 

 elsewhere. 



As it is found that the State studs at Radautz and Piber 

 cannot supply all the stallions required, entire colts, usually 

 yearlings, are purchased by the State and reared at farms 

 kept especially for this purpose. The State breeding-stock is 



