41 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FARM HORSES. 
of land than almost any other kind of horses; but they require to 
be well fed in a greater degree than most others. They have 
usually rather small heads, which, with their great activity, shews 
that their pedigree is not altogether of the cart kind. We are 
told that an Earl of Huntingdon imported some Dutch mares (a 
breed then much thought of) into the district of the Clyde, which 
being crossed with the native breed (probably the ancient pack- 
horse), thus became the founders of the now highly appreciated 
Clydesdale. The prevailing colour is black, but there are also 
many browns and some greys. The great bulk of this breed is 
susceptible of much improvement by careful selection in breeding, 
and avoiding the evils which I have pointed out as those to which 
the breed are prone. 
The Cleveland cannot certainly be considered as a breed of 
cart-horses, though they are occasionally employed for this pur- 
pose. There was a very fine specimen of this breed exhibited at 
Northampton as a stallion for getting cart-horses, and which ani- 
mal was highly commended ; but although unquestionably he was 
calculated, if put to suitable mares, to beget some excellent progeny 
for carting purposes, yet it must be acknowledged that he was still 
more valuable in his more legitimate sphere as the sire of carriage- 
horses. I understand that, as a matter partly of curiosity and 
partly to decide a difference of opinion, the measurement of this 
horse was taken at the girtning-place, and the result was that, 
though equal in height, he proved one foot less in circumference 
than many of the other horses. I am glad, however, to find that 
at the forthcoming meeting at York numerous prizes will be 
awarded to various kinds of horses, so that the merits of the Cleve- 
land Bay will be tested, as well as others of the lighter breeds. 
These are the principal breeds of cart-horses found in this 
country ; but there are very many useful animals to be met with 
in various districts though belonging to no distinct breed; and 
there are, unfortunately, too many of a very different class whose 
only pretensions to the name of “ cart-horse ” consists in their 
great deficiency of breeding and their want of adaptation to any 
other purpose. These undersized badly-formed horses usurp the 
place of better animals, and their perpetuation is therefore to be 
deprecated. 
There is a certain average size for horses best suited to agricul- 
tural purposes, that is, . they should be strong enough to render 
more than two horses in a plough a needless expense, and yet not 
so heavy as to impair their speed and activity. From 15 to 16 
hands appears to be the proper height; lower than the former, or 
higher than the latter, is equally objectionable. 
[To be continued.] 
