88 
Relative Profits to the Farmer from 
three years. At that age the animals form part of those longv 
unwieldy — to me unsightly — teams of three, four, or more horses^,, 
pulling away in single-file order at one plough. 
Those who confine their attention principally to horse-breed- 
ing are not numerous in this country. The reporters seem to 
know of few, if any. Mr. Lawrence Drew, Merryton, Hamilton, 
near Glasgow, is almost the only man of my acquaintance who 
has given up sheep, and to some extent cattle too, in favour of 
horses. He found the climate too moist for sheep, and horses 
have paid him better than either Shorthorns or Ayrshire cattlev 
His horses, hoAvever, are well known to be of the best class. 
There are no better, and — excepting Knockdon, Ayrshire, and 
Keir, Perthshire — perhaps none as good, taken all in all. Mr. 
Drew, I should think, has the largest breeding stud of Clydesdale 
horses, having upwards of forty brood-mares. The climate is 
favourable for the growth of hair, so much prized in the Clydes' 
dale ; the soil and situation of the farm are well adapted for the 
growth of bone and muscle. He has got possession of the best 
matecial ; and as he knows how to use it, having a great taste 
for horses, and an excellent knowledge of them, he generally gets 
what might almost be termed fancy prices. Nevertheless, in the 
favourable circumstances in which he is placed as regards sires^ 
climate, good blood, the closest of attention, and the best of 
judgment, it is not all prizes with him. He has many blanks, 
through death of foals, &c., thus affording another proof of the 
riskiness of a horse-breeding stock. To enable one to breed and 
rear horses extensively and profitably for sale, there must be rare 
adaptability of soil and climate, the best of blood to work upon, 
and good judgment as well as a great liking for the business on 
the part of the owner. Very extensive horse-breeding is, there- 
fore, in these days of quick, and generally remunerative, returns 
from beef and mutton, only a thing for the privileged few to 
attempt. 
Much of the disappointment and loss arising from ajttempta 
at horse-breeding are due to the imperfect attention bestowed on 
the selection of mares, and to the present unsatisfactory arrange- 
ments for access to entire horses. Mr. Gilbert Murray says 
that in Derbyshire the great barrier to improvement in horse- 
breeding " is the want of good stallions." Mr. Finlay Dun 
says, " that in the midland counties good brood-mares are 
scarce. Stallions, though sufficiently numerous, generally lack 
size, quality, and action, and receive inadequate encouragement 
from the usual service fee of 20.";. per mare." Mr. L. C. Chrisp 
says, " horses to breed and rear are the most expensive, most 
exhaustive, and most uncertain stock a farmer can have." " The 
only profitable way," says Mr. Ranald Macdonald, "in which 
