692 
IMPKOVliMENT 01>' AGRICULTURAL HORSES. 
extensive grazing-grounds upon the old red sandstone forma¬ 
tion; these, however, carry us to the extreme verge of our 
prescribed boundaries. 
This cursory view of the geological structure of the coun¬ 
try which is our more immediate field makes us acquainted 
with some very significant facts. 
In Herefordshire, Somersetshire, and South Devon, we 
have large masses of old and new red sandstones, upon 
v\hich some of the finest pasture-lands in England are to be 
found. The importance of these pastures and their influence 
upon the breeding and cultivation of stock cannot be over- 
' rated. Indeed, the mere allusion to the great breeds of cattle 
that radiate in all directions from these centres, s[)eaks 
decidedly of the capabilities of the localities. That improve¬ 
ment in the breeds of agricultural horses has not kept pace 
with the improvements in the breeds of cattle in the same 
country is evidently to be explained by reference to other 
causes than those affecting the quality of the land, or the 
nature of the herbage which it supplies. 
Secondly, we gather from our geological observations that 
the soils are diverse in quality, as must reasonably be expected 
to be the case over any extent of country in any direction; 
and that, consequently, no one of the varieties of agricultural 
horses is adapted to the cultivation of the whole of the sur¬ 
face; as agricultural operations will be conducted upon 
llie most tenacious clays through all grades of soil up to the 
lightest lands upon the chalk. 
Mapping out our country for the purpose of according to 
each division an appropriate function, we may give to the 
great grazing lands of Devon, Somerset, and Hereford the 
office of rearing our farm-horses (in association with other 
stock), to be afterwards distributed, according to their capa¬ 
bilities, to the other counties, for the purpose of being 
employed in the several processes connected with arable 
culture. 
The remainder of our discussion may be convenient!}" 
arranged under two divisions, still keeping in view the con¬ 
clusions at which we have ])reviously arrived concerning 
the varied properties of the soils required to be cultivated, 
and the necessity consequently existing for liorses of various 
capabilities. 
In the first section we propose to consider the several 
breeds of agricultural horses, viewed in relation to their dis¬ 
tinctive peculiarities of constitution, speed, and power of 
draught; secondly, taking advantage of the obvious connec¬ 
tion between the amount of physical power and speed of the 
