260 Report upon the Spring SJtoic of Tlioronghhred Stallions. 
work, there is a new foundation entirely to be considered, as sorts 
are presented that have never been crossed with the thorough- 
bred at all. Exquisite neatness and quality are wanted here, and 
hence it is that horses of a smaller type are seen to do best in 
such quarters. 
The work of the Royal Commission will demonstrate all this, 
as we are told in the report published on December 22 that the 
Commission was not prepared to extend the benefits of the grant 
to Clevelands, and other so-called special breeds, first on account 
of the inadequate amount at disposal, and secondly because the 
breeds mentioned required looking into, and it was the inten- 
tion of the Commission to make such inquiries. In doing so, 
much will be learnt as to the difference of the half-bred stock 
in the different counties, and doubtless such information will 
be acted upon. The late show, if in a certain measure experi- 
mental, proved, first of all, that the thoroughbred horses in this 
country are by no means scarce, and there were also unmis- 
takable signs that, despite the great increase in the value of 
stallions, and in like manner in fees for the production of race- 
horses, there is still a fair proportion of at least the best second- 
class available as hunting sires. Two horses that gained pre- 
miums at Nottingham have been very recently purchased, in one 
case for 1,200^., and in the other for 1,000^., and eight or ten 
others have changed hands at 500/. and upwards. This fairly 
signifies quality, and if a reserve list of such horses were in future 
at the disposal of the Commission, it can well be seen that a 
better class of hunting sire would become general. 
The local committees which have been appointed might do 
good work in regulating the location of stallions. If a horse 
was specially liked by breeders and farmers, and, instead of 
getting fifty mares as stipulated by the conditions, got from 
eighty to a hundred, a report of the same should be made to 
the Royal Commission, with a recommendation that the horse 
should be again the recipient of the premium. This might be 
repeated year after year until his produce had reached the age 
of three, when a change might be desirable, as the system of 
breeding from three-year-old fillies cannot be too strongly ad- 
vocated, both to increase the stock of horses in the country and 
for the advantage of breeding from young fresh animals. Thia 
plan would give the Royal Commission an opportunity to place 
horses according to their strains of blood in years to come ; so 
that the lines of one horse might cross well with those of a 
predecessor. 
The Royal Agricultural Society had plenty of evidence last 
year at Newcastle that the policy of giving valuable premiums 
for the encouragement of good stallions of the right stamp to get 
