4 REPLIES TO A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON BREEDING. 
a rule to keep male animals that are intended to be used for 
the purpose of getting stock as much by themselves as 
possible, so as to ensure their full vigour when needed. 
On the question of the influence of fat and exercise in- 
ducing impotency, we think our correspondents do not 
lay sufficient stress. It w T ould appear from them, that 
thoroughbred horses get only from two to three hours’ 
exercise in the day ; and some are only allow ed to pace 
their own loose boxes. Is this exercise enough, w e w ould 
ask ? Is not the state of the cart-stallion better, who travels 
his sixty miles in the w T eek? But is the excessive quantity 
of fat usually seen on cart-stallions desirable? Is it neces- 
sary, or is it merely for show ? May it not be the cause of so 
many cart-mares not being stinted? Cannot statistics be ob- 
tained, showing that an animal taken from regular, but not 
too hard labour, and in good w orking condition, is the most 
likely to procreate the best foals, and perhaps the greatest 
number also ? These are questions w 7 e submit to our readers 5 
consideration. 
Our correspondents all agree that the number of mares put 
to horses during the season, averages from forty to seventy ; 
and that from an hour-and-a-half to tw 7 o hours is the usual 
time between the acts of copulation. I w 7 ould add that, 
on some occasions, I have know n as many as three or four 
mares covered in as many hours. Is this in accordance with 
physiological laws? May not the large number of weak, 
leggy, bad-constitutioned animals (“ w 7 eeds ”), depend upon 
inattention to some of these causes? and would not a know 7 - 
ledge of this save a man, who puts a valuable mare to a very 
superior stallion, much chagrin when he finds the produce 
comparatively good for nothing ? 
This part of our subject is w ell worth further investigation ; 
and w T e should be glad of the opinion of practical men on this 
point. 
Another matter having reference to the entire horse, on 
w hich our correspondents likewise agree, is, that the quantity 
of mares put to a horse in one season is very large ; and that 
the pow 7 er of the horse for such large numbers is obtained by 
giving stimulating food. This may be very well for the owner 
of the horse, but is it a system to be tolerated by the prac- 
tical breeder? Ought he not to take steps to ascertain how 
many mares have been covered by the horse he employs ? 
Surely it must be a short-sighted view of the matter to 
prefer a i( cheap mount.” Yet I believe many w ould say 
that if low fees are taken, the numbers must make up for the 
low prices paid. 
