ON BHREDING. 
369 
ral excitement of the organs, overstraining* their function, never 
tails to shorten the term of their capabilities to renew their offices; 
and, if carried to excess, to prove highly injurious and destructive 
to the system altogether*/’ We are surprised that this circum¬ 
stance never entered into the heads of the generality of breeders, 
who bring their mares into the neighbouring towns on market or 
fair-days to be served by stallions who are continually covering, 
on the average, a dozen mares in the course of twenty-four hours, 
during the season. It is extraordinary how men can expect such 
extra-exertions on the part of an animal, and not be surprised at 
the general failure of the mares. The frequent repetition of 
covering mares in such a constrained and prostituted manner 
(for it is a well-know n fact that proprietors of such stallions are 
obliged to have recourse to stimulating food, and even drugs, to 
excite them to venery) weakens, after a time, the physical sensi¬ 
bility of the generative organs. Nature is ever perfect; and w r e 
plunge into difficulties and distress in proportion as we deviate 
from her established laws. 
Another evil that requires to be reformed among the generality 
of farmers is, the practice of allowing* their animals to breed at the 
early period of two years old. This is too early; for in our humble 
opinion both sire and dam ought to come to their full strength be¬ 
fore they are bred from ; for by breeding at so early an ag*e they 
produce a weak and unhealthy progeny, that seldom or never ar¬ 
rive at maturity. Mares should never be bred from till four years 
old ; and stallions w ould be better if deferred till five or six. 
“ The Bedouins,’ says Burekhardt, “ in general do notallow 
their mares to breed until they have completed their fifth year." 
“ The age," says Virgil, “ for horses and cows to undergo lu- 
cina and just hymeneal rites, commences after four, and terminates 
at ten." 
“ -iStas lucinam jnstosque pati hymenaeos 
Desinit ante decern, post quatuor ineipit annos.” 
If some of our breeders w r erc to imitate the Bedouins and the 
Romans in this instance, it would be more to their credit, and we 
believe more to their profit, in the long run, than breeding from 
twm-year old mares. We are assured that early breeding is pro¬ 
ductive of as much injury, and tends to deteriorate the breed of 
horses as much as early breaking. 
“ Wouldst thou their courage and their strength improve— 
Too soon they must not feel the stings of love." 
As to the duration of the formative process, though not exactly 
known, there seems to be no doubt that it is in all ca'^es a short 
, * PercivalPs Lectures. 
VOL. IV. 3 K 
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