Horse-breeding in Austria-Hungary. 



459 



proprietor is obliged to issue a certificate to the owners of 

 mares covered by his stallion, and to keep an accurate 

 register of such mares ; in some instances, also, the licensed 

 stallion must be examined once a month by a veterinary 

 surgeon. Licensed stallions, particularly cart-horses, are 

 sometimes granted a State subvention when recognised as 

 specially suitable for stud purposes in a given locality. 

 The fee charged by private owners is always a matter of 

 arrangement between the parties interested. 



Besides the State studs, there are Imperial studs at 

 Kladrub and Lippiza, which have been successful in pro- 

 ducing two fine types of carriage-horse. 



Mr. Findlay concludes his account of the Austrian system 

 by remarking that the percentage of foals in the State studs 

 varies between 60 and 70 per cent., whereas in a stud the 

 increase should be about 80 per cent. This may, however, be 

 due to the climate, and the increase among farmers' stock is 

 much smaller. He adds that there is no doubt that the 

 State studs have done much in raising the quality of the 

 horses bred throughout the country, in preserving good local 

 breeds, and in spreading a knowledge of breeding upon 

 scientific principles among the farmers. 



In Hungary it appears that the system of State encourage- 

 ment and of management of State studs is similar to that 

 followed in Austria ; in Hungary, however, thoroughbred 

 stock is raised in the State studs. Of these there are four : 

 Kisber, Babolna, Mezohegyes, and Fogoras. The estimate 

 of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture for horse-breed- 

 ing in 1897 amounted to some £230,000, £96,000 being 

 allocated to the State studs, and £122,500 to the stallion 

 depots. The receipts were expected to reach nearly £100,000. 

 These figures are exclusive of the stud farms. There are 

 eighteen stallion depots, and 946 covering stations in different 

 parts of the country; and the number of stallions kept in 

 1896 at the depots was 2,838. 



Committees are formed in different parts of Hungary with 

 the view of making the farmers acquainted with the object and 

 principles of rational breeding, thus constituting a connecting 

 link between the Government breeding establishments and 



