THE BREEDING OF STOCK. 
943 
get superior horses, in a few generations the animals became 
weedy and degenerated, and we were obliged to begin again, 
starting, perhaps, from the plough tail. He had no wish to 
underrate the good qualities of blood horses, but freely 
acknowledged that no other in the universe possessed so 
much stride, speed and endurance, or could make such extra- 
ordinary efforts, or whose nervous and vital systems were 
more wonderfully developed, or could better transmit their 
good qualities; but at the same time they were bad doers, 
were narrow' and small in the carcase, and deficient in bone, 
required large quantities of the most nutritious food, and 
were, from their thin skin, very susceptible of cold, and inca- 
pable of standing the rough treatment and rigors of a cam- 
paign. The original parents, Barbs and Arabs, first intro- 
duced in the reigns of James and Charles, were small animals, 
about fourteen hands, and the size of their descendants has 
been obtained by high feeding from their earliest days. There 
is thus a perpetual tendency to reversion, particularly when 
excessive feeding is not adopted. He would, therefore, in 
conclusion, with a view to remedy these evils, suggest the 
following plans : — In consequence of the discouragement 
hitherto given by the leading societies, it would not pay 
private individuals or companies to establish any scheme for 
the improvement of ordinary saddle horses, it must be done 
by the Government, or the aid of the State ; and first he 
recommended the doing away with Queen's plates, which, 
however useful in past days for improving the breed of horses, 
were no longer of any utility. The Turf, he thought, could 
take care of itself, and the money might be devoted to a 
national purpose, viz., to prizes for the breeding of cavalry 
and other useful horses. Secondty, Government Stud Farms 
should be established, not so much for the breeding of weight- 
carrying hunters and cavalry horses as for the breeding of 
horses and mares calculated to produce them. Hampton 
Court might well lead the way in this respect. It would be 
far better than keeping it up to play second fiddle to Mr. 
Blenkiron. There might also be half-a-dozen other Govern- 
ment studs in suitable parts, and the loss on these farms 
would be but little, and would soon be repaid by the better 
supply and cheaper cost of good, sound, and valuable horses, 
many of which would make first-class hunters, and others 
valuable horses for cavalry, artillery, and harness purposes. 
All faulty animals should of course be weeded out annually. 
The greater part of the mares might be sold in foal, and the 
best of the young horses as stallions. He verily believed if 
some such plan were adopted, in a few years they would be 
