Farming of Cornwall. 
453 
never visited us ; and the " vesicular epizootic," which was pre- 
valent here as elsewhere in 1840, did not prove dangerous. The 
most formidable diseases are diarrhoea, dysentery, constipation, 
and red water, which are too frequently occasioned by injudicious 
feeding, and the want of proper care and treatment. 
79. Horses. — There is no subject connected with Cornish 
farming in which greater neglect is exhibited than in the breed- 
ing and rearing of horses. Our stock is generally bad, which is 
partly attributable to the mares, partly to the stallions, and partly ♦ 
to the method of rearing. The brood mares are not of a very 
superior description, many of them showing the bone and muscle 
in the wrong places — too much in their heads and necks, and 
too little in their limbs; but a great many are strong, active ani- 
mals, varying from 14 to 15 hands high. These do not cross 
well with the thorough-bred stallions,* the produce being a 
weedy, trashy race, too light for the general purposes of riding or 
driving. The majority of the stallions that have been introduced 
have been unfortunately either broken down by premature labour, 
or having exercised their vocations, and been condemned as breed- 
ing stallions in other places, have been sent into Cornwall by way 
of a finish. A correspondent,! who has bred from some twenty- 
five mares of good figure and size with the blood-horses, says, 
" that he is correct in stating that not one colt in the whole lot 
turned out well." The farmers, seeing the effect of breeding in 
this manner, have for several years encouraged half-bred stallions 
of size and power, and in cases where they have possessed suffi- 
cient action, the produce have answered extremely well ; for, 
where they have not succeeded as gig or saddle horses, they 
generally make strong and useful labour ones on the farms. 
But where, from want of proper selection, the males have been 
wanting in that necessary quality (action), and more particularly 
when this is absent also on the dam's side, — which is frequently 
the case, — the produce proves of very inferior character indeed. 
Our soils being generally light, our horses also are of a light 
description. The greatest part of the heavy draught breed are 
supplied from North and South Wales, and Shrewsbury; their 
prices varying from 151. to "25/. each, at three years old. These 
* Some years since, with a view of introducing a stallion for the purpose 
of improving the breed of saddle-horses in Cornwall, I consulted with 
Mr. Youatt on the subject, and he recommended an Arab stallion. With 
many of our mares, such as those possessing heavy heads and necks, and 
thick, upright shoulders, the cross would do a deal of good, and could not 
possibly do any harm. The principal object is to obtain a compact frame 
and vigour, and we possess these qualifications in an eminent degree in 
the Arab ; after which, if size and power were required, the female pro- 
geny might be crossed with an active " Cleveland bay." 
t Mr. Trethewy of Trewithen, Probus. 
