G9G 
IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL HORSES. 
kind of horse he requires, he is probably not much disturbed 
by questions about the purity of his descent. An incident 
strikingly illustrative of this was recently narrated by a dealer 
who has been for years engaged in transactions having refer¬ 
ence to draught-horses especially, and who spoke from per¬ 
sonal knowledge of the circumstances. He had purchased 
from a breeder in Lincolnshire a two-years old colt, not 
described as a Clydesdale, nor, indeed, as one of any special 
variety, but coming under the common designation of a cai t- 
colt. The animal was shortly afterwards sold by him, and 
was taken into Scotland. After an interval of about two 
years his attention was called by a friend to a thoroughbred 
Clydesdale just purchased by him for a large sum. With 
the facility acquired by long practice, he at once recognised 
his own horse of two years before; subsequent inquiry con¬ 
firmed his conviction, and proved that the animal’s claim to 
be considered a pure Clydesdale had no stronger foundation 
than lay in the fact of his having been for two years in the 
vicinity of the place. Doubtless he must have been de¬ 
scended from the Clydesdale race, and therefore have possessed 
some of the generic characters; but it is quite certain that 
he was not considered worthy of the title even by his 
breeder.' 
Should it be desirable to infuse other blood into our own 
breeds, the Normandy horse presents an opportunity which 
the scientific breeder may take advantage of. The animal, 
judging from his conformation, would be very desiiaiblc for 
hilly districts, as he is particularly described as ‘Mong and 
low.” This horse has not, however, been sufficiently employed 
in our own country to enable us to do more than direct atten¬ 
tion to hi n, as deserving the consideration of those who wish 
to avail themselves of an opportunity of crossing with a remote 
variety. 
In an economic point of view the prices of the animals of 
various breeds, and of different ages, will be interesting to 
those not initiated in the mysteries of horse-dealing, and, 
accordingly, we step a little out of our province to furnish 
some general information on this subject. 
Commencing with the heaviest breeds, we may place first 
the English dray-horse, whose price will vary from £IOO to 
£300 for the best stallions; common kinds of English stallions 
may be obtained from £30 to £80; mares and geldings of 
the first class £60 to £l00; common kinds £23 to £43; 
colts of two years, when entire horses of much promise, have 
been sold for £l20; geldings and fillies will average £30 to 
£30 for the best; common sorts £l5 to £23. 
