18 
Belative Profits to the Farmer from 
was capable of supporting itself ; in snch cases I do not think a much, if any, 
lieavier stock could be kept than is now found. But inasmuch as there are 
still many and frequent exceptions to such management, I have no hesitation 
in saying that, in too many cases, British farmers could, with profit to them- 
selves, breed more horses, cattle, and sheep than they do. 
Farms that are near large towns, when much of the work is on the road 
and has to be done in shafts, or when the work during the spring and early 
summer is very severe, are not well suited for horse breeding. Again, when 
there is a deficiency of grass, and the mare and foal must be kept entirely on 
cut food — though this latter difficulty may be overcome, — when the farm is 
extensive and the buildings central, so that much time must be lost in bringing 
home the mares at midday to suckle, breeding cannot be satisfactory ; but 
even under such adverse circumstances it is possible that it would answer to 
have two or three mares, and so breed enough to replenish the home force ; 
tfhereas, under ordinary conditions, there is no branch of a farmer's business that 
is likely to pay better than careful breeding of a good sort of agricultural and 
dray-horse. There is one fatal objection to breeding, and that is when the 
conditions, either natural, artificial, preventible or non-preveutible, preclude 
the regular supply of abimdant wholesome suitable food. Thus, undrained 
grass will not produce food capable of making good bone and muscle ; while 
there are other unfavourable influences, such as the propinquity of chemical 
works, which at certain times cause a deposit of noxious matter on the 
grass. The latter is, of course, a very exceptional case. I allude to it from 
having seen its deleterious efiects. Under ordinary conditions, not only 
can breeding be pursued with profit, but the work of the farm need not be 
materially interfered with on account of it. I hold a strong opinion that it is 
practicable and profitable to commence breeding whea the filly is two years old. 
So far from growth being checked, as is sometimes urged, I find that, with 
good feeding, size is increased. The filly, after being served, should be bitted 
and lightly worked during the summer. After foaling she must be turned 
away, with her foal, for a summer's run, and afterward^ come regularly into 
work. 
When the soil is unsuitable to breeding cattle, as on land liable to red- 
water, on weak undrained pastures, or on moory land deficient in the requisite 
mineral elements, it is advisable to purchase strong stores having superior 
power to resist adverse conditions ; and so buying in such cases is preferable 
to breeding, as a rule, and of course such a reply must be considered as very 
general. Well-drained clay land is more suitable for growing young stock, 
provided we have facilities for dry lair, than light weak soils, and this because 
the natural food supplies all the necessaries for healthy development. It is 
true that much of this can be supplied artificially, and thus, by a judicious 
use of foreign materials, excellent results are obtained ; but good nalural pro- 
duce is the most healthy and economical. 
The inability to keep a breeding-flock of sheep in a healthy condition 
makes purchasing store sheep advisable. There arc farms which arc unsuitable 
for breeding — strong land, for example. Again, there are farms on which the 
proportion of winter-food greatly predominates, and where it is difficult, if not 
impossible, to produce a regular succession of spring and summer food, which 
is essential to success. Considerable variety of food is necessary for healthy 
life in a young state ; all these are reasons for or against a breeding flock. 
There are circumstances outside the farm which materially aflect the question, 
viz., the proportion between demand and supply. A few years since sheep 
could often be bought cheaper than they could be bred — a condition of things 
that has not been met with recently or is likely soon to recur. 
In my experience, which is only limited, I am not aware of any circumstances 
existing which would render the exclusive breeding of horses profitable. I 
