icith Remarks on the present Breed of Riding Horses. 521 
hunting mare, and one for the best hackney mare ; I would not 
debar the same animal from entering in both classes, because I 
think it possible that one mare may have such a frame and 
quality as would enable her to fulfil either purpose. I can 
instance one mare exhibited in the hackney class which gained 
the prize thei-e, and was so superior to any shown in the hunting 
class that she ought to have carried that off as well. 
This is a difficult class to judge quite fairly, for good old 
mares that have been much knocked about often appear to great 
disadvantage, and mistakes too have been made, and a prize im- 
properly withheld, where the eyes have been injured by accident. 
Blindness must not of course be overlooked ; but a defect, the 
result of accident (if the fact be satisfactorily proved), ought not 
to disqualify. There seems now to be a reaction in horse- 
breeding, consequent on the high prices realized since the Cri- 
mean War. This is, therefore, a favourable moment for making 
an effort to improve our brood mares. From the returns in 
' Weatherby,' the number of thoroughbred mares in England 
is about 2050, all of the highest lineage ; and the number of 
thoroughbred foals of 1860 was 1450 or a little more. The 
blood stallions advertised at from 50 guineas a mare down to 
5 guineas, amount to nearly 300 ; there are as many more, known 
only in their immediate localities. From this it will appear 
that the fountain-head is maintained in its original purity, and 
much pains is expended in keeping it up. 
With this advantage of pure blood it is the duty of the country 
gentlemen and farmers to keep up to the mark the useful classes 
of hunting and riding horses, as well as those adapted to harness 
and military service. As every day brings all parts of the world 
nearer to us, the long-established demand for our horses increases 
rather than diminishes, and every month records the shipment to 
distant countries of our most eagerly sought out sires and mares. 
XXVII. — M. L. DE Laveegne on the Rural Economy of France 
since 1789. By F. R. de la Tr]^honnais. 
A work on the rural economy of France written merely to array 
statistical tables, and describe the status of property, the mode 
of farming, and the various circumstances of climate, local wants, 
and traditionary customs of husbandry, would appear almost a 
work of supererogation after the admirable book published by 
M. de Lavergne in 1850, in which the iniral economy of England, 
Scotland, and Ireland is contrasted with that of his own country. 
This book gives us a most complete account of the agricul- 
tural status, riches, and produce of France, as well as an elaborate 
