te>Ste=J5-=*?=SI==*=Sl==$==K==8==S

SAUNDERS, F.R.S.C, F.L.S., F.C.S.,

rector of the Canadian Experimental Farms,
— AND—

VIES FLETCHER, F.R.S.C, F.L.S.,

Government Entomologist and Botanist,

DELIVERED. BEFORE T.HE NORTH LANARK FARMERS'
INSTITUTE, AT ALMONTE;

ALSO

HORSE BREEDING IN CANADA,

LETTERS OF COLONELS RAVENHILL AND PHILLIPS

ADDRESS BY COL. RAVENHILL TO HORSE BREEDERS.

*w£6^^v©f^<*AAA

OTTAWA :
Printed by Maclean, Roger & CoM Wellington Street.

1888.

The EDITH and LORNE PIERCE
COLLECTION o/CANADIANA

green's University at Kingston

SCIENTIFIC FARMING.

ADDRESSES

BY-

PROF. SAUNDERS, F.R.S.C, F.L.S., F.C.S.,

Director of the Canadian Experimental Farms,
— AND —

JAMES FLETCHER, F.R.S.C, F.L.S.,

Government Entomologist and Botanist,

DELIVERED BEFORE THE NORTH LANARK FARMERS'
INSTITUTE, AT ALMONTE;

ALSO:

HORSE BREEDING IN CANADA,

LETTERS OF COLONELS RAVENHILL AND PHILLIPS

— AND —

ADDRESS BY COL. RAVENHILL TO HORSE BREEDERS.

lAA/^6^^?'v©^^ ^^

OTTAWA :
Printed by Mac Lean, Roger & Co., Wellington Street.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013

http://archive.org/details/scientificfarminOOsaun

[From the Ottawa Daily Citizen, Dec. 15th, 1887.]

THE DOMINION CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

In to-day's issue we publish a report of the proceedings of the an-
nual meeting of the North Lanark Farmers' Institute, held at
Almonte, a few days ago, in which will be found matter of great
interest to agriculturists, and incidentally to the community in
general.

The address of Professor Saunders is marked by the clearness
which his utterances and writings are known to possess, and it cer-
tainly affords an answer to the question which is often asked ; What
is the use of Experimental Farms ? He shows that they were first
established by associations of farmers in Germany, who saw the need
for the work they could do ; they were afterwards taken up by the
Government of that country ; and thence they soon spread to other
countries which have made any advance in agriculture. There are
many experiments in practical agriculture which are impor-
tant to every farmer, but which every farmer has neither the leisure
nor the facility to try. It is, therefore, in the common interest,
and we use this term in the widest sense, for the farming interest
affects the whole country, that these experiments should be tried by
the Government ; and the farming population afforded the advan-
tage of the results. We think the Government of Sir John A. Mac-
donald may fairly be congratulated upon the progress which has
been already made and which is so clearly described in the address
of Mr. Saunders. And it cannot ba without interest to the Premier's
constituents in Oarleton that the Central Experimental Farm for
the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario should be established in their
county. It must also bo a matter of congratulation for the Hon.
John Carling, the Minister of Agriculture, to seo the very successful
working of one of his most cherished projects. Still further, the
farmers of the country may be congratulated on the fact that prac-

11

tical agriculture is being intelligently and actively treated as an
applied science by the Government of the Dominion, in such a way as
to keep it abreast, if not to place it in the front rank, with the best
practice in agriculture in other countries, instead of being allowed
to drift along as best it might by the light of the sometimes effec-
tive, perhaps, rnle of thumb, or experiments of individual farmers,
very often conducted under difficulties. One practical benefit which
appears to be clear in the steps already taken, is that a new wheat
has been imported, which is described as being almost the equal of the
Eed Fife in hardness and excellence, but which has, for parts of this
Dominion, the almost inestimable value of ripening from one to two
weeks earlier. If this wheat had been available in Manitoba and
the districts of the North- West in the years 1883 and 1884, it would
have prevented what was really a calamity; and it may be broadly
stated that the introduction of this wheat alone greatly outweighs
id value to the country all the expenditure which has been made, or
we might almost say, which can be made, on the Experimental
Farms. Prof. Saunders shows that many grains and roots have a
tendency to run out, and if practical information is afforded to far-
mers on this point, it cannot fail to be of great importance to them.
We, ourselves, hope greatly for the results from the horticultural
experiments which have been set on foot. If these succeed in fur-
nishing information to the farmers of the old Provinces of the par-
ticular fruit trees which are better adapted to their circumstances
than those at present found, the country will be made both richer
and more pleasant to live in thereby. This remark even more
strongly applies to Manitoba and the North- West. There the lack
of fruit trees is a great deprivation. But it is believed that those
varieties which succeed in Northern Eussia will succeed there; and
this, we understand, will be tried by the experiments now being con-
ducted under Professor Saunders' direction. And even in the matter
of seed testing, if farmers in Canada can, in many instances, as they
have been in other countries, be saved from the evil consequences
of sowing seeds of which a sufficient percentage will not germinate,
both they and the country will bo saved from loss. Prof. Saunders

shows tbat a good beginning has been made in this respect, and
that losses have been prevented. These tests are easily available*
Arrangements have been made with the Post Office Department for
the transmission of the seeds, and each farmer is promptly informed
of the value of the specimens sent by him for examination. There
are many other points in the report before as which we are tempted
to enlarge upon, but our object is less to refer in detail to the matters
so clearly stated in the address as to direct attention to it.

The address of Mr. James Fletcher, the Dominion Entomologist
and Botanist, also contains matter of great interest and importance
to farmers ; we can only, however, in this place, direct attention to
it.

LANARK FARMERS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THEIR INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS

PURPOSES.

ADDRESSES BY

PROF. SAUNDERS AND MR. JAMES FLETCHER

OF THE

Government Central Experimental Farm,

Ottawa.

QUESTIONS OF GREAT INTEREST DISCUSSED.

(Prom the Report in the Ottawa Daily Citizen, December 15, 1887.)
Almonte, 10th. — The annual meeting of the North Lanark
Farmers' Institute for the election of officers and other business
was held in the Town Hall here to-day. Mr. 0. M. Simpeon, Presi-
dent of the Institute, presided, assisted by Mr. John Steele,
Secretary.

After some preliminary discussions by members of the society an
address was delivered by Prof. Saunders, F.R.S.C., the Director of
the Government Experimental Farms.

EXPEIMENTAL AGRICULTURE AND ITS VALUE TO THE FARMERS;

Prof. Saunders said : It affords me a great deal of pleasure, in-
deed, to be with you to-day, a double pleasure for the reason that
last year when your Secretary was kind enough to invite me to

come to your annual meeting, and I had made every arrangement
to attend, the evening before I was attacked with a violent illness
which confined me to my bed for some days. I have listened with
much interest to your discussion of subjects connected with farming
which are of so much importance to yourselves and to the country. I
think it is a good sign when institutes of this kind are eo well
patronized and so well attended, notwithstanding the inclemency of
the weather ; when farmers meet together to discuss the results of
their own experience, the character of the crops they have grown
under different conditions of soil, and different circumstances, and
compare notes and thereby benefit each other by the interchange
of ideas in all such matters. It indicates that a community of this
sort consists of thinking men. A farming community that exercises
itself in that direction will always be a prosperous one, and will be
well to the front in all departments of agricultural work.

AGRICULTURE AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE.

Agriculture is and always has been an experimental science, and
in the very nature of the subject it must always be. Most of the
experience we have in agriculture has been obtained by the prac-
tical experimenting of individual farmers, a few facts gleaned here
and there, and these added into one great sum constitute our present
knowledge of the art. Up to within a recent period very little
had been done either by societies or by Governments to aid indivi-
dual effort in this particular line of work. It was only about thirty
years ago that the first agricultural experimental station was
established in Germany, and this was the first effort made in any
part of the world to bring to bear on farming operations the benefits
of scientific training. A. number of farmers met together in one of
the provinces of Germany and there resolved to establish an experi-
mental farm on a small scale in order to save them individually the
cost and trouble of each one experimenting for himself. They
selected a manager for this farm, and started a course of experi-
ments, and shortly after applied to the Government to help them in
the matter. The Government inquired into the subject, and believ-

8

ing that the scheme was a good one, and that it was likely ta
produce excellent results, voted a sum of money to aid in the work.
Within a few years several similar institutions were started in other
parts of Germany, and they have gained in popular favour from
year to year until now. In most cou ntries in Europe holding any-
thing like an advanced position in agriculture, there are many of
those experimental institutions where scientific work is carried on
regularly, the results are giving to the farming community, and
they reap the benefit of the experience so gained for them. From
the outset the cost and maintenance of these institutions has been
borne almost entirely by the Government of the country in which
they are located.

THE VALUE OF SCIENTIFC EXPERIMENTS TO THE FARMER.

It has often been asked, " Of what practical use are those institu-
tions to the farmer?" Well, there are many experiments which
could and should be carried on to benefit the agriculturists which
demand more time, more risk and more careful attention than far-
mers can afford to give, and the use of apparatus which farmers
have not at their command in order to work out satisfactorily all
the details connected with the tests, so that there are classes of
experiments which farmers cannot well undertake for themselves*
and which are of great value to the community.

CLOVER AS AN ACCUMULATOR OF NITROGEN.

There is not a farmer present, I presume, but knows the value of
clover as a green manure. It is a subject that everyone is familiar
with, and there is, perhaps, no plant at present known which is so
valuable an agent in nourishing the soil as a good crop of clover
ploughed in green. If anyone asks why it is so, he is usually met
with the answer, " We know it is so, because it is the result of our
experience." Now if we bring chemistry to bear on the question*
we find that clover contains a large proportion of an element which
is a very important fertilizer of the soil — nitrogen. This element
exists in the soil in considerable proportions. It is found in every
soil, and it forms as well the great bulk of the atmosphere we

breathe. In the soil it exists in two conditions : Oae form, which
is called available nitrogen, is that form in which plants can take it
up readily as food ; while in the other form, known as unavailable
nitrogen, it is locked up in the soil and cannot be assimilated as
plant food until it has undergone a change, which is usually brought
about in a very gradual manner by the cultivation of the soil and
the exposure of every part of it to the action of the atmosphere,
which gradually converts the unavailable nitrogen into the avail-
able form, and in that way the fertility of the soil is partially main-
tained. It has been shown by analysis that clover accumulates
nitrogen in a large proportion from some source during its growth.
It is not definitely known whether this nitrogen is obtained from
that which is unavailable to other plants, or from the air ; but it is
known that a given weight of clover contains nearly fifty times as
much of this valuable element, as the same weight of the wheat
plant. Hence, if clover, with its weight of fertility, is ploughed
under, it gives to the soil a dressing which will serve for the enrich-
ing of several succeeding crops.

UNKNOWN STORES OF NITROGEN.

The knowledge of this fact in connection with clover leads to
another consideration. Clover is only one member of a very large
family of plants which are known to botanists as leguminous plants,
which include all the lupins, vetches, tares, &c, some of which are
natives of this country and some of foreign countries. If clover has
this quality of storing up nitrogen, other plants may have the same
and some a superior power in that direction, one can at once see
that here is a field for experiment in a direction which would be
exceedingly valuable to the whole farming community, to ascertain
which of the leguminous plants, if any, are as good or better than
clover for this purpose. There are some native to the north of
Europe and many more found in different sections of this great
Dominion, all of which should be experimented with in order to
ascertain whether they could not be made useful to agriculture, for
it has been well said that the power of one plant to store up food

10

for future crops of other plants lies at the very foundation of suc-
cessful agriculture. Nitrogen is abundant in all animal fertilizers,
and it is the presence of that element which gives to these fertilizers
their chief value.

IMPORTANCE OF PERMANENT PASTURES*

Another point which I might use in illustration is the import-
ance to farmers of permanent pastures for cattle. It is very un-
certain, in view of the immense fertile wheat-growing pi lins which
we have in the North- West, whether farmers in the east will be
able to compete in grain growing with the farmers of the Prairie
Provinces. Indeed it is very doubtful if they can. In that case
the farmers of Eastern Canada will have to fall back on such lines
of agriculture as they can make most profitable, and one of these is
stock-raising. Permanent pasture may be defined as a mixture of
perennial grasses containing those which will ripen at different
periods during the season. A crop of timothy ripens and is harvested
early in the year, after which there is a long period when that field
is useless for the purpose of pasture, and not until the growth is
strong enough, and has body enough to provide good grazing,
would a farmer think of pasturing his cattle on it. But in per-
manent pasture you get a selection of grasses, which live from year
to year, some of which will ripen early in the season, some in the
middle of the summer, and others later on, so that the cattle may
have a succession of that succulent food which they need and have
it in such abundance as will enable them to put on flesh rapidly.

PROVIDENCE HAS NOT PLACED ALL THE GOOD GRASSES IN ANY ONE
PART OF THE WORLD.

Most of the grasses which we have in cultivation have come to us
from various parts of Europe, and there are some varieties in our
own country which are quite as promising, perhaps, as some of the
European sorts. In my late journey in the North-West I paid some
attention to tho native grasses, and found varieties there which
seem to me to be quite promising, judging from their habit of
growth, and from tho fact that cattle show such a preference for

11

them. When brought under cultivation there may be found among
them species quite equal and perhaps superior in some respects to
those at present in use. There are also in the North- West and in
the Western States, some varieties which are capable of standing
very dry weather, and some others adapted to very cold climates.
By growing judicious mixtures of these grasses, we hope to ascer-
tain their true value. This important work will be carried on
extensively at the Experimental Farm, and the object will be to
show which are the best varieties, bring them into notice, and also
to take such steps as will make them available to farmers. There
are a score or more different kinds of grasses, which can be obtained
from seed dealers in Europe and other countries, many of which
would be exceedingly useful if their valuable qualities were better
known. These facts serve to show that there are lines of experi-
mental work which at first sight might appear trivial, but are
expected in the end to produce results of great importance to the
stock interests of this country. Such experiments cannot be under-
taken by the farmer. Few of you could afford the time or expense
required to travel to the North- West and other places in search of
such products; but if this can be done for you, the information
obtained for your guidance, and the material made available for
your use ; you must admit that great good is likely to result from
such work.

DEGENERATION OF ROOTS AND CEREALS,

All our cereals, roots and tubers are, to a great extent, artificial
products. You do not find wheat, oats or barley growing anywhere
in nature as ¥7e have them now ! You do not find potatoes like
those in cultivation growing wild. The potato originated from an
insignificant wild variety, which, by cultivation and careful hybridi-
zation, has been brought to its present high standard of excellence.
So with wheat, oats and barley, and all field crops. These improved
plants and roots, good as they are, are liable to constant variation
and to frequent deterioration — that is, they often " run out." If you
recall the varieties of grain and potatoes which were grown twenty

12

years ago, you will find very few of them to day. This points
to the importance of continual experimental work with now varie-
ties of grain and othor crops, so that by the frequent introduction
(as in the case of stock) of new blood there may be imparted to
these products that vigor of growth and fertility of oharacter which
will admit of their being cultivated to greater perfection and profit.

WASTEFUL FARMING.

Our farming during the past has not always been conducted in
the most economical manner. Crops have somotimes not been sown
with needed promptness, the fertilizers at command have not been
made the best of, anu much land that would have yielded good
results has for want of proper drainage and care remained unpro-
ductive to the owner. Loss to the country has also resulted from
lack of information regarding the necessity of a proper rotation of
crops. Canadian farmers will require to be more careful in these
particulars if they would maintain for their country in these days of
keen competition and improved appliances that well-deserved pre-
eminence in agriculture which she has hitherto enjoyed. I might
enlarge here indefinitely, but perhaps I have said enough in the few
thoughts presented to show that there is practically no limit to
experimental work, the results of which, when its true value is
determined and made known, will be of inestimable consequence to
farmers everywhere; and when I say that the experimental farms
established by the Dominion Government are to take up this class
of work especially, and report on it frequently for the benefit of the
farmers, I think I have fairly answered the question : " What good
will those farms be to the agricultural community?" The establish-
ment of so many of these experimental institutions in Europe led to
the consideration of the subject in America, and about thirteen years
ago the first of these experimental stations was established in the
State of Connecticut. Since then a number of similar institutions
have been started, supported by annual grants from the legislatures
of the different States in which they have been located, until the
importance of the subject has so grown on the farmers in the United

13

States that for a year or two past the people have been agitating for
more liberal support from the general Government for such institu-
tions, and la.st year Congress passed a Bill known as " The Hatch
Bill," which provides for an annual appropriation of nearly $500,000
to be divided amongst the different States, to be devoted entirely to
this experimental work in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
In the meantime the Canadian Government has also been looking
after the interest of the farmers. In 1884 they appointed a com-
mittee to enquire into this subject, and from the opinions expressed
by practical farmers, who were called before this committee, the
Government were led to consider the expediency of

PROVIDING EXPERIMENTAL FARMS FOR CANADA.

Our worthy Premier, Sir John Macdonald, who always takes the
warmest interest in everything that tends to the posperity of the
agricultural classes, asked Parliament for an appropriation of $20,-
000 towards the purchase of a site for an experimental farm. In
November of that year I wp.8 requested by the Government to visit
the different agricultural stations in the United States ; and also to
ascertain by correspondence the working of similar institutions in
Europe, and to prepare a report for the Government which might
give them such additional information as they required in order to
reach some conclusion regarding this work of experimental agri-
culture. I travelled through all the Western and Northern States,
and visited every agricultural institution located anywhere near the
Canadian boundary, and submitted a report of my investigations.
The result was the paesage of the Bill known as (i An Act respect-
ing Experimental Farm Stations," which provided for the establish-
ment of five experimental farms, one of which was to be located
near Ottawa, to serve the purposes of Ontario and Quebec jointly ;
one in the Maritime Provinces, to serve the purposes of those Pro-
vinces jointly ; one in Manitoba ; one in the North- West Territories,
and one in British Columbia.

THE OBJECTS AIMED AT

in establishing these farms might be better presented to you perhaps

14

in the wording of the Acts itself. The work to bo undertaken is set
forth as follows :

(a ) Conduct reseaches and verify experiments designed to test
the relative value, for all purposes, of different breeds of stock, and
their adaptability to the varying climatic or other conditions which
prevail in the several Provinces and in the North- West Territories ;

(6.) Examine into the economic questions involved in the pro-
duction of butter and cheese ;

(c ) Test the merits, hardiness and adaptability of new or untried
varieties of wheat or other cereals, and of field crops, grasses and
forage-plants, fruits, vegetables, plants and trees, and disseminate
among persons engaged in farming, gardening or fruit-growing,
upon such conditions as are prescribed by the Minister, samples of
the surplus of such products as are considered to be specially worthy
of introduction ;

(d) Analyse fertilizers, whether natural or artificial, and conduct
experiments with such fertilizers, in order to test their comparative
value as applied to crops of different kinds ;

(e.) Examine into the composition and digestibility of foods for
domestic animals ;

(/.) Conduct experiments in the planting of trees for timber and
for shelcer.

(</.) Examine into the diseases to which cultivated plants and
trees are subject, and also into the ravages of destructive insocts,
and ascertain and test the most useful preventives and remedies to
be used in each case ;

(Ji) Investigate the diseases to which domestic animals are
subject ;

(i.) Ascertain the vitality and purity of agricultural seeds ; and

(j) Conduct any other experiments and researches bearing upon
the agricultural industry of Canada, which are approved by the
Minister.

15

It will be seen from this category that provision is made for
experimental work in all departments of agriculture in each of the
Provinces, In order to carry on this work the Act authorized the
employment of a Director, who was to have supervision of all the
institutions ; of a Horticulturist, who was to take charge of the depart-
ment of horticulture at Ottawa ; of a Botanist and Entomologist
(the two offices combined), and lam happy to say that Mr. Fletcher,
the gentleman appointed to that important branch, is present and
will be able to speak for himself. It also provided for the appoint-
ment of a Chemist, whose duty it will be to analyze fertilizers and
conduct all chemical operations ; and also for the appointment of an
Agriculturist who shall be specially charged with the management
of the field crops and stock. When the site for the Central Experi-
mental Farm was located, possession of it was not secured until
November of last year — too late to accomplish much, but there was
found time to plough about 20 acres and gather up some loose stones
that wore scattered over the ground. Winter then set in and put a
stop to all out-door work until the spring. In the meantime a small
building was erected for an office and a glass structure in which

TO TEST THE VITALITY OF SEEDS,

which was one of the operations the Act prescribed should be under-
taken. This work was successfully carried on last winter, and 187
samples of wheat and other cereals, grass seeds and other field crops,
were sent in to the institution to be tested. The vitality of these
was determined and the percentage that would grow under favor,
able conditions reported to the farmers sending them as promptly as
possible. That department of work has been of much practical
value, as will be seen from the bulletin that will be issued from the
farm very shortly, giving details of this work. It resulted in the
farmers being saved, in many instances, from sowing seed which
would have givon them very iittle return for their labor. In the
harvesting of grain it sometimes happens that after it has been cut
and put in the mow it will heat and its vitality as seed will be in-
jured ; there are other causes also which may occur which so affect

16

seed grain as to make its germination more or less a matter of un-
certainty. The Experimental Farm offors to any farmer in the
Dominion the advantage of sending in, free of postage, samples of
seed to be tested in the soil and also in another form, in duplicate,
one test boing a check on the other, and returns are made to the
farmers without any charge or expense. I hope that thegentlemen
present will all ot them avail themsolvos of the advantages offered in
this department of our work as freely as they think fit. We shall
not complain of any number of samples being sent, and shall en-
deavor to meet any requisition that may bo made on us in this re-
spect. Seed testing has already begun, and we should like to have
samples sent in as early as possible, so that there may not be too much
of a rush as seel time approaches. It sometimes takes a fortnight or
three weeks to properly test the germinating power of some seeds.

EARLY RIPENING WHEAT.

Another matter undertaken during the past winter was the im-
portation from Northern Russia of an early ripening wheat.
Farmers in some parts of the North-West have suffered several years,
some seasons much worse than others, from frozen wheat, and it was
believed that if a variety of wheat could be obtained that would
ripen a week earlier than any sort at present available it would re-
sult in most instances in the saving cf the crop. While frozen wheat
has some value, still the saving of the crop from frost would make a
difference to the farmers of between 55cts., and about 25ets. per
bushel. The new seed wheat was obtained from a district in Eussia,
600 miles north of where we are to-day, and where the season is
much shorter than in any of the settled portions of our Noith-West
Teiritories. This wheat has ripened from ten to fifteen days
earlier than any other variety of wheat cultivated there. It has
shown great vitality, and is believed to be nearly, if not quite
equal, in every respect, to any other sort in cultivation. In Ontario
and Quebec it has not succoeded so well on account of the dry sea-
son we have had. In consequence of its early ripening quality it
has not had quite the chance that later ripening varieties have had,

IT

•and hence the grain is somewhat shrivelled, but in the Maritime
Provinces, where they have had more moisture, it has turned out
very well, so that we have every reason to believe that the intro-
duction of this Russian wheat will be exceedingly valuable to the
Dominion. We also obtained seed of many other varieties of wheat,
barley, oats and potatoes, to be tested at the Central Experimental
Farm. A large part of the farm was in rather rough condition at
the outset. Much of it had been occupied by tenants for a number
of years, and there was a large amount of stone on the surface. There
was also some forty acres of swamp on the back part of it. The
greater wart of the land was good, but required much work to get
it into proper order. The removal of stones and internal fences was
promptly^undertaken, but by the time the land was got in order it
was too late to do very much in the way of seeding.

THIS SEASON'S TESTS.

However, we have tested during the year quite a number of
varieties of grain, among the rest 67 varieties of spring wheat, 31 of
barley, 60 of oats, and 246 varieties of potatoes. On account of the
hot, dry season being unfavorable for grain and potatoes, we have
not obtained such good results as we otherwise should have done;
but we have succeeded with a considerable number of varieties in
obtaining very fair crops, and shall have from the small quantities
begun with a sufficiency of seed to test those varieties under more
favorable conditions another year.

CLEARING, DRAINING AND BUILDING.

There were on the Experimental Farm about 140 acres of land
which was covered with pine stumps,amongst which there was a strong
second growth of poplar and birch. This land has all been reclaimed
by blowing up the stumps with dynamite, and rooting up the pop-
lars, and it is all now ploughed and ready for cultivation. The farm
has also been fenced and got into such shape that good results may
be expected another year. There will be room enough in the area

acquired — 465 acres — to test all the varieties of produce to which re-

2

18

f3rence has been made. The forty acres of swamp have been drained,
and barns and stables are being erected for the acommodation of
stock and horses. These buildings will be completed in the course
of a few weeks and will be large enough to accommodate about 75
head of stock and a sufficient number of horses for the farm work,
so that the foundation will be laid for operations in'this direction
another year. Dwellings are being erected also for the superinten-
dents of the different departments, so that they can reside on the
place and devote their whole time to the work* Plans have been
prepared for a laboratory and a museum of the products of the farms
for the benefit and instruction of visiting farmers, and offices will ba
provided in the same building for the transaction of business.

A REPRESENTATIVE CLIMATE.

Ottawa may be said to be fairly representative in climate of a
large area in the two Provinces of Ontario and Quebec ; hence it is
important to determine there not only what cereals and farm crops
can be raised, but also what varieties of fruit can be produced, as
fruit trees are generally takon by strangers'and visitors as an indi-
cation of the character of the climate prevailing in the^district, and
are appreciated much more readily than crops of grain or roots
would be. It is also important that the people in[every district
should be able to grow their own fruit, and therebyjadd not only to
the attractiveness of their homes and surroundings, but also to the
profits attending farm work. The impression has prevailed that
the Ottawa district is not a good fruit-growing^eection ; but I think
it is quite possible and wholly probable that varieties of fruit can be
introduced which will be found exceedingly useful and very profit-
able to cultivate. On the farm there have been planted, under the
direction of the horticulturist, W. W. Hilborn, 1,000 apple trees,
including 297 different varieties; 298 pears, of 114 varieties ; 197
plums, of 72 varieties; 11 varieties of peaches, 4 £of apricots, and
27 of crab apples. In small fruits also a great deal has been done.
The planting includes 127 varieties of grapes, 90 of strawberries, 37
of raspberries, 21 of blackberries, and 16 of currants, besides which

19

there are a number of new seedlings being tested. We do not ex-
pect or hope that all those varieties will be useful, but it is expected
that among them will be found some of superior excellence which
will be adapted to the needs of the community here, as well as
some fitted equally well for other climates of the Dominion. As
to the botanical and entomological departments of the work, the
officer in charge of them (Mr. Fletcher) is here and will speak for
himself. A skilful chemist, Mr. F. T. Shutt, has baen appointed,
who will undertake the analysis of soils, crops, grasses, &c. ; also
the analysis of milk from the different breeds of cattle, and such
other chemical work as may be needed.

POULTRY DEPARTMENT.

It is also proposed to establish a poultry department. The develop-
ment of the poultry interest in Canada has been very rapid, and the
exports of poultry products now foot up a sum that is astonishing.
They exceed in amount our exports of horses, and it has become a
subject of such importance that it is thought necessary that some
experiments in that line should be carried on to determine the rela-
tive value of the different breeds and crosses for the production of
eggs and dressed poultry for the markets. Enough has been said,
I hope, to show the importance of this great undertaking for the
benefit and advancement of agriculture, in which both the Premier
and the Minister of Agriculture take so warm an interest. No
effort will be spared to make these institutio ns a success, and they
will, I trust, stand as permanent proofs of the wisdom and fore-
thought of our great statesmen, the Premier, and the Hon. the
Minister of Agriculture, and confer lasting benefits on the farmers
of Canada. (Applause.)

Mr. Fouell— I would like to ask Prof. Saunders if the soil absorbs
the nitrogen contained in the second growth of clover that is
allowed to remain on the ground and rot.

Prof. Saunders— I should scarcely expect that that portion of the
nitrogen which is contained in the foliage of the plant would be
21

20

so well preserved to the soil when it is allowed to remain on the
surface, &s??hen ploughed under; but the analysis of the roots of
clover shows that a much larger proportion of nitrogen exists in
the roots than in the leaves; so that the fact of the clover growing
there would enrich the soil, and some portion of the nitrogen in
the leaves, by the process of decay, would eventually become in-
corporated with the soil and act as a fertilizer.

Mr. Darling— At what state in the growth of the plant would the
most benefit be derived by ploughing it under ?

Prof. Saunders — Plants are always richest in their constituents
about the flowering period. It might sometimes be considered too
great a sacrifice of the crop to plough it under when fit to cut for
hay; but that is the time when the ploughing of it in would be of
the greatest benefit to the soil.

Mr. Moffat — Have you yet undertaken any experiments to deter-
mine the best breeds of cattle for dairying purposes in Canada ?

Prof. Saunders — Not yet; we are waiting until the necessary
buildings are put up, when it is intended to undertake, as fast as
practicable, those different departments of work. Those which
seem to the Minister to be most pressing will, of course, be the first
undertaken. It will be impossible to undertake every department
at the outset, as there are five different farms to be established and
organized.

INSECT AND PLANT PARASITES.

Mr. Fletcher was next called upon to address the Institute. He
eaid : It is a great pleasure to one who makes a special study of any
particular branch of knowledge, which he considers is of use to the
community at large, to have the privilege of addressing such a
meeting as this. Those who take the trouble to attend these meet-
ings are the men who take the most interest in the work with which
such institutes as yours are concerned, and, therefore, though the at-
tendance may sometimes be small it must always be conceded that

21

those who come represent the best class of your members and are
the ones who will derive most benefit from such meetings. Professor
Saunders has told you that he hoped to get some information from
you that would be useful in his work at the Experimental Farm.
This is no less the case with me in the departments which have
been placed under my charge at Ottawa, and I hope I may be able
to show you that it will be to your advantage to assist me. He has
told you that I am the Entomologist and Botanist of the institution.
It is true this is my title, and these are fine sounding words, but
they are not easily enough understood by everybody, so when I am
asked what my work is, I answer — to study injurious"' insects and
plants and the best remedies to keep them down. As you all know,
a very large proportion of your crops is taken away from you, year
by year, by insects ; there is also a large amount destroyed annually
by injurious plants.

THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST.

I will now, with your permission, give you some idea of the work
it is proposed to carry out in my departments at the Central Experi-
mental Farm at Ottawa. There are two kinds of injuries to crops,
which as Entomologist and Botanist I shall have to consider,
namely, those disease3 of plants due to insects and those due to
vegetable parasites. I believe it is possible that in relation to
them the work of the division may be made of great use to the coun-
try at large. I have undertaken it with a great deal of enthusiasm,
believing that much good will come of it, and I shall do my best to
make this branch of our experimental work succeed ; but I shall look
to the farmers for assistance. In a vast territory like Canada it is
impossible that any one man can take in the whole field of j obser-
vation alone. It is possible, however, if that one man gives all
his attention to the work and he is assisted by correspondents in
the different provinces, that his studies may bring about results of
general benefit to the whole Dominion. It is in the hands of every
farmer who is a practical observer and who grows his crops with
all his mental energies directed towards their improvement, to aid

22

by sending in the result of his observations. It has been said that
the ordinary farmer is unable to assist in these scientific studies.
This is not the case. A very small fact is of value if it is the result
of what the farmer has actually seen take place on his farm, a true
record of that one fact is of itself important, and when added to the
observations of others may fill a missing link in our knowledge on
any given subject, and is, therefore, of great use to science, for
science is simply a word that is used for "the best knowledge." It
is a word that is apt to frighten people, but it is only the Latin
word for knowing or knowledge. Then if you will help by sending
any small facts that come under your notice they will be an as-
sistance to other farmers all over the country, for they will be in-
corporated in reports and will be distributed far and wide all over
the Dominion. Arrangements have been made by which this inter-
course can be facilitated with the least possible trouble and expense
to farmers. When crops show signs of disease it is of great impor-
tance to discover the nature of the injuries and see whether they are
of insect or vegetable origin. If anyone finds his crops attacked in
in any way, and he will send specimens of the plants attacked —this
can be done free of postage — in most cases information respecting
the trouble will b3 obtainable from the Experimental Farm at
Ottawa. Efforts will be made to have this institution recognized as a

BUREAU OF INFORMATION

to which any farmer who desires information concerning agricul-
tural matters can write. It is hardly likely that the Director will
have time to attend to all these himself ; but be will hand the letter to
whoever the officer may be in charge of the special department in-
quired into, and the desire of the Director is, as he has told you,
that farmers should not hesitate to write to him for any information
whatever concerning their farming operations. Those enquiries re-
quiring information concerning insects or plants, will come to me,
and I shall attend to them at once, and shall endeavor to give you
as much information as possible. As well as letters, you can send
samples to Ottawa to our headquarters to be examined and reported

23

apon free of charge. This is an important advantage to you. Fre-
quently

FARMERS LIVING AT A DISTANCE

from town have no postage stamps on hand, and they may say " I

will let this stand until I go to town when I can take it in and have

it posted," but in these cases it is frequently forgotten until too late.

They need not delay on that account ; they have only to take their

samples to the post-office in proper packages, throw them in, and

they will be at once forwarded free of postage, and the answer will

come back as quickly as possible. There is no doubt at all that a

report on the different kinds of injuries from insects and parasitic

plants is very advantageous to all farmers to read and study. If a

farmer knows that a certain injury is going on in one part of the

country — either the attack of an insect or a fungous disease, he

will keep his eye open to ascertain what remedy is discovered, in

case he receives a visit from the unwelcome stranger ; for although

ail these studies are of great interest in themselves they are of very

little use to the country if we do not find remedies for the attacks.

This is our chief aim. We hope by getting men who devote all

their time to these subjects, study hard and work them out from

the begining, to find remedies for all these diseases. There are a

great many for which remedies have not been found ; but on the other

hand a good deal of work has been done by scientific men with good

results, although they do not always get the credit of it. What

farmer, when he buys five cents' worth of Paris green and saves

his potato crop, thinks of the men who spent years in hunting for

a sure and cheap remedy for killing the potato bugs ? Yet we could

not attempt to-day to grow a crop of potatoes in some parts of

Canada without Paris green any more than we could without
manure.

INJURIOUS INSECTS.

Let me now say a few words with regard to the injuries committed
every year by insects. These are so enormous and so well known
that probably no one here will challenge the propriety of the
Government having appointed someone to devote his whole time

24

to the study of the best means of keeping their ravages within
bounds. I will give you a few figures which have been carefully
verified as to the extent to which these injuries may reach. In the
first place, it may be stated generally that ten per cent, of all crops
is annually destroyed by insects. Frequently, however, this pro-
portion is far exceeded. In 1882 one of several kinds of insects
which attack the hop in England reduced the crop by the value of
$13,000,000. In the 1874 report of the United States Commissioner
of Agriculture it is stated that the loss on the cotton crop by insects
is about $25,000,000 a year. In 1873 the money value of wheat and
corn destroyed in the State of Illinois by one insect called the
chinch bag was $73,000,000. No wonder then that there is con-
sternation at the present time in that State where this insect has
again appeared in numbers. To come nearer home, in 1854 the
wheat midge destroyed in Canada 8,000,000 bushels of wheat. It
becomes a necessity then that someone should be appointed to in-
vestigate these subjects and try if possible to find practical re-
medies which farmers can apply for themselves. I have stated
that ten per cent, of all crops is destroyed by these pests. I believe
I might without exaggeration say twice this amount, but it is better
to be under than beyond the mark. You may say, This is all
very fine your telling us about these losses by insects— have you
any remedy— can you give us any hope of relief from their ravages?
I answer, yes ; certainly I can if you will help me. I believe that all
these insects, when their life-histories are studied out and their
habits ascertained, can be kept down in a very large degree. Let
me give you one instance which I have frequently cited before, be-
cause it is taken from the practical work of practical men. If you
will take the trouble to look up the last census you will see that the
revenue from one small crop— the clover-seed crop— was half a
million dollars at the time the census was taken. Three years ago the
revenue from that crop was reduced to nothing. There was not a
grain of clover-seed exported, and why ? Because a little fly, so
small that it would lie on the head of a pin, had gradually worked
its way up from the United States and had got into our clover fields

25

and attacked them so severely that there was no crop to reap.
People began to give up growing clover-seed. Finally, the farmers
pat their heads together and consulted with those who studied in-
sects, and said, " here is a great trouble coming upon us, and we
must have some remedy." " Well," said the entomologists, " let
us look into the matter and find out what is the nature of the insect,
and what is its life-history, and then perhaps we can find a remedy."
Now I will mention here what perhaps some of you know : before
insects attain their perfect development they pass through four
stages. When we talk of the borer in the apple tree to a man who
knows nothing of the lives of insects and say, "you must put some-
thing obnoxious on the bark of your tree at the time the eggs are
laid to keep the beetle away ; " such a one would say, " this is not
a beetle, it is a soft grub." This is true ; but it was not always a
soft grub, nor will it always remain so.

All insects go through four distinct stages of existence : First,
there is the little Qggy which is laid by the mother insect ; this
hatches into a soft, grub-like, active insect which passes its life eat-
ing, until it is full grown ; from this it changes into what we call
the chrysalis state, in which it has generally the limbs of the per-
fect insect apparent, but in most orders of insects lies quiet and
cannot use them ; from this chrysalis, after a time, emerges the
perfect insect. Now, let us apply this life-history to the clover-seed
midge The farmer wanted to know how to stop the ravages of the
midge. So he set to work to find out its life-history. He examined
the heads of clover seeds, rubbed them up in his hands, and found
that the pod which should have held the clover seed was all right
in appearance ; but on opening it, instead of a seed, there was a
little red grub inside. How did it get there ? I will tell yoa : Let
us start in the middle of June when we shall find the grub in the
seed. We put the head of seed into a glass jar and watch to see
what happens. Towards the end of the month — remember that
date — the little grub works its way out of the clover and falls to the
ground ; here it burrows down below the surface and remains there
for some weeks. The farmer who knows nothing of insects cuts

26

his clover about the beginning of July, and is surprised to find no
seed. He thinks, however, he may have better luck with the
second crop ; but just about the time this is in flower the little grubs
which had gone into the ground in June have matured, and the
perfect insects — tiny midges — appear. These begin operations at
once, and the females lay a single egg in each clover flower, which
hatches, and the young worm works its way down into the pod, and
before it is full grown has consumed the whole contents. Now, how
are we to stop it? Simply by getting the clover off the fields
before the end of Juno. It was found by experience that by cutting
the clover before the first brood came to maturity ,or turning in
cattle to feed on it, a large number of these insects were destroyed,
and there were consequently few left to lay eggs in the second
crop. So the farmers in the west where they grow clover-3eed,
now reap only one crop where they formerly grew two in a season.
They either cut their clover soon after the middle of June or turn in
their cattle to eat it so that it may not stand in the fields till the
end of the month ; because if they waited until then, the little
insects would have come out of the clover and gone into the ground,
whence they would emerge in due time to attack the next crop.
By persevering in this course the farmers have gradually thinned
out this pest, and will, I believe, eventually get rid of it altogether.
Another benefit which has come from the study of entomologists
must be mentioned, namely, the use of Paris green as an insecticide.
This was not discovered by accident ; it was the result of direct
study in seeking for a remedy for the potato bug. During the last
few years

THE POTATO BUG

has increased so much that we now have to use this remedy as a
matter of course; It is not known by all farmers that the remedy
is perfectly harmless when applied to this crop. I make this state-
ment because there is in some sections a wrong impression about
it — it is stated that the potatoes absorb it; now, it i3 utterly impos-
sible to poison the potatoes by putting arsenic, which is the poison-
ous principle of Paris green, on the soil. The potato tuber is merely

27

a receiver of food for the nourishment of young plants, which are
represented by the eyes. It is not a root, but a swelling in an
underground stem, and the eyes are buds. It is provided by nature
as a reservoir of special food for the young plants in the following
year. Yery little of this nourishment came in through the roots.
The largest amount of substance, the starch, that is stored up in
the tuber of the potato, was taken in an elementary condition
through the leaves. It is perfectly absurd then to talk of arsenic
being taken up in the roots and stored in the tuber of the potato
plant, Spraying with a weak mixture (only two ounces in 40 gal-
lons of water) of this material has been discovered to be the best
remedy for the injurious codling moth which destroys our apples.
This insect is so injurious that in some years it destroys as much as
80 per cent, of the whole crop. By the use of this remedy it has
been found that 75 per cent, of the whole crop can be saved every
year. I believe that if it were applied generally over large areas
we could eventually get rid of the codling moth altogether. More
men are studying this economic aspect of insect life year by year,
and we are gradually becoming able to keep in check most of the
worst insect enemies with which the farmer has to contend. But
there are still a great many of these pests which are doing an
enormous amount of injury, and for which we have not yet found
practicable remedies. These it will be my duty to study for this
purpose.

There is one of these which attacks the wheat crop, concerning
which I wish to enquire particularly. It is called the wheat bulb
worm, and has appeared lately in this district. The indications of
its attack is probably known in your district as "silver top." The
appearance of the disease is this. The young ear of wheat turns
white prematurely before the rest of the crop is ripe, and when you
pluck it you will find there are no grains in it. If you will examine
it carefully, you will find that there is a very small transparent
maggot inside the stem above the top joint. You will notice at once
these dead ears of wheat in fields where this pest is at work. I fear,
too, there is now no doubt but that it has been increasing in num-

28

bers during the last year or two. It is a very difficult insect to
combat, from the fact that it matures and loaves the wheat stem
before the main crop is fit to cut; consequently it has escaped and
is ready to lay its eggs for the next crop. There is a little gap in
our knowledge of the life-history of this insect. "We know that it
passes through two different circles of life. First of all it exists in
the first brood in the straw of standing wheat; then there is a long
gap between that time, from about the boginning of July until Sep-
tember, during which wo know nothing of its habits, but we find
that in September the perfect fly appears again and lays its eggs on
the sprouting fall wheat, and the little maggots eat their way down
to the base of the stem of wheat, from which it is called the "wheat
bulb worm," and remain there all winter in the root of the wheat,
just in the same way as the insect which you all know too well, the
" Hessian fly," which also passes the winter in the root of the wheat.
There is then a gap between the summer and the autumn broods,
which I want to find out something about. Very

PEW INSECTS ARE LONG LIVED.

This inseet has a long life for so small a fly — not a quarter of an inch
in length. Some that I enclosed in glass jars lived for three weeks
without any food at all. This proves that it can live a long time
but it is hardly possible that it can live in the winged state for two
or three months in summer. We know that the maggot lives
through the winter in the wheat plant, and I think it is possible
that it attacks some of our wild grasses and thatj an intermediate
brood lives in them during the period of which we have no trace of
its habits. This is one of the pests for which we are anxious to
find a remedy, and in which you can all help me. One of my
correspondents reported that one in every thirty heads of his
wheat was destroyed by this insect last summer. Now there are
certain broad general principles for your guidance when you find
your crops attacked, and these are founded upon very simple rules.
In the first place if you examine a large number of different insects
you will find they may all bo divided into two largo divisions by

29

the nature of their mcuth parts. In one these will be found to con-
sist chiefly of a pair of jaws with which they tear the substance of
their food ; in the other there is, instead, a tube by means of which
the insects suck up their food in the shape of liquids. For the first
class it is apparent that any poisonous substance placed on the food
will be consumed with it and the insects destroyed. It is, then,
merely a matter of getting some material not injurious to the plant,
but which will kill the insects preying upon it. Such we have in
various compounds of arsenic, as Paris green and London purple.
For the other class, which could push their beaks through the
poison and then suck out the juices from the plant beneath, we must
have recourse to other methods, such as those which will kill by
coming into contact with the bodies of the insects or by virtue of
some noxious volatile principle. One of these we have in
Persian insect powder. Of all the numerous insects which attack
vegetation, and some plants are attacked by as many as 200 differ-
ent kinds, I suppose there is not one for which a remedy of some
sort could not be devised ; but the trouble is we must find remedies
which are practicable, such as while they attain the object aimed at
are yet of such a character as not to lay us open to the accusation
that the remedy is worse than the disease. There are

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR THE APPLICATION OF ALL INSECT REMEDIES.

First, they must be effectual ; secondly, they mu9t be economical ;
thirdly, they must be simple. Most of the substances used are
direct poisons and many of them are costly. The remedies sug-
gested must be devised with special regard to these points or they
will be useless, and simplicity is a most important feature, for if
they require much care in their application or preparation,not only
may they not be used in the right proportions, but they will pro-
bably not be used at all. Remedies may be divided into three
classes; first and most important— -1, agricultural, by which is
meant such methods as, a judicions rotation of crops; planting and
reaping at a different time to that usually adopted ; the selection of
seed less liable to attack; the use of special fertilizirs and the

30

alluring to a more attractive food plant. 2. Active, by which
poisonous materials are used to destroy insects, and 3. Preventive,
by which they are deterred from approaching the plants wished to
be protected. This is most easily accomplished by the use of
obnoxious materials to prevent the females from laying their eggs
where the young grubs can do mischief. Alkaline washes on trees
and carbolic washes for the protection of root crops come under
this head. For further details on this subject, I will request any cf
you who wish to obtain them to write to me at Ottawa.

PARASITIC PLANTS.

The large annual loss to crops is not, however, entirely due to in-
sects, there are also microscopic fungous diseases which destroy
crops. Perhaps one of the most injurious of [these on record was
one that attacked the coffee crop of Ceylon. In the ten years, 1869 to
1878, $60,000,000 of injury was done by this one variety of parasitic
fungus. We also know that our wheat is apt to be attacked by
t'rust" and "smut." These again are parasitic fangi, and although
we have not yet found any practical remedy for rust I am in hopes
we may be able to do so. For smut, however, we have a very
easily applied remedy which is efficacious. It has been known for
upwards of 200 years that by washing seed wheat with a solution
of bluestone the plants from seed so treated are more exempt from
the attacks of this low form of vegetable life than wheat sown with-
out such treatment. In England the farmers seldom sow wheat
without first washing it with bluestone, and the consequence is that
smut is not at all prevalent in the wheat fields of England. Now,
what steps should be taken by farmers when they find their crops
attacked by disease ? First of all they should examine them care-
fully to find out whether it is an attack of a fungus or of an insect.
For fungi it is more difficult to find a remedy that can be applied at
once, but steps can be taken to prevent in the following yeas a
repetition of the evil. No sane person will reside in a locality which
he knows is infested by any contagious disease. In the same way
it is very foolish for us to plant good seed in a field in which we

31

know that the summer before the crop had been destroyed by some
disease. Besides the weeds which give so much trouble there are
some other injurious plants which it is possible you may not some
of you recognize as plants. For instance, it does not occur to many
farmers when they see "rust" and "smut" on their wheat, or
the " black spot " on their apples, that these are plants. As a
matter of fact, however, they are just as much plants as those on
which they are found ; but they are of quite a different nature, for
they are parasites and derive their nourishment from the larger
plants upon which they grow. All their parts are exceedingly small,
and it is necessary to examine them with the aid of powerful mag-
nifying glasses before we can understand the secrets of their lives.
The smutty ears and the rusty discoloured spots on the leaves and
straw of wheat are not the whole plants ; but merely the fruit, con-
sisting of collections of innumerable seeds — or, as they are called
when speaking of fungous plants, spores — each one of which is so
small as to be invisible to the naked eye, but which, nevertheless,
is capable of infecting a whole wheat plant should it come in con-
tact with its tissues — I have said that what we see is only the fruit.
You may say " where, then, are the other parts of these mysterious
plants ?" I will tell you. In the case of the " smut " the spore
lies in the ground or is carried there upon the seed, and when the
young wheat plant begins to grow this enemy forces its roots into
the tissues and soon permeates the whole plant. By the time it has
found its way up to the ears it is mature and ready to produce its
fruit in the shape of the black, sooty powder, the appearance of
which you all know so well. The poor wheat plant all this time
has been robbed of its nourishment by this parasite living inside its
tissues, and is unable to produce its seed. The spores of the fungous
which produce " rust " do not act quite in the same way, but are
carried by the wind and settle on the leaves or stem, and there send
out their roots, which find an enterance between the cells and spread
out in all directions, sacking up the nourishment and strength which
should have gone to produce the grain of the wheat plant. The
result, however, is nearly the same, the weakened straw is unable

32

to carry up nourishment sufficient for the grain to properly fill out,
and there is, consequently, a great deficiency in the amount of seed
produced. There are, however, certain preventive remedies which
can always be applied, the be3t of which are the judicious rotation
of crops and the choice of seed of varieties which are known to be
free from attack. On well cultivated farms you do not continue
growing tho same crops on the same fields year after year. In
Canada farmers have ample means of getting information ; you take
agricultural papers and read them. You use improved methods of
rotation of crops, thus securing not only the advantage of the con-
stituents of most use to each kind of crop which is accumulated year
by year from the manure, only certain parts of which are used by
each crop, but you are also exempt to a large degree from the^e de-
structive diseases of which lam speaking. For instance, the wheat is
attacked by rust or smut, and these diseases are allowed to come to
maturity and the spores are left in the soil ready to attack the next
crop of a similar nature if sown ; but if by rotation of crops you
have two or three other kinds of crops following it, the probabilities
are that the spores become exhausted and cannot attack the same
crop when it is its turn to be sown again. The chief remedies to
be applied then for fungous diseases must be preventive, because
we know very little about them. I hope in a few years to have
studied some of them out, and then may ba in a position to prescribe
remedies.

A BOTANICAL GARDEN.

There will be at the Experimental Farm at Ottawa a botanical
garden and arboretum. An area of sixty-five acres has been set
apart upon which trees and plants of economic value will be grown
and tested. Plants from other parts of Canada, not growing here
indigenously, will bo cultivated to see if we can make use of them in
this district. Plants from other countries will also be tried to see
if we cannot increase the number of useful plants now grown in
Canada. As an instance of what maybe done in this line, I will
mention the Cinchona tree from which quinine bark is taken. For

33

years after its discovery, it was supposed that this would only grow
in its native forests of South America, but it is now cultivated 07er
the greater part of the tropical regions of the world, and supplies
the product called quinine, which is one of the most valuable medi-
cines known, and, in all tropical climates, is a necessity in the treat-
ment and prevention of malarial fevers. Why should we not be
able to introduce into Canada useful trees and plants which we have
not now, but for which we have plenty of room. At the Central
Farm last season we cultivated some of the fodder plants which are
not grown yet in Canada — one of them from the East called " Gram,"
belonging to the same natural order as the vetches and clover, gives
promise of succeeding well here, and, should it do so, is a new fodder
plant which may be of great value to farmers.

THE QUESTION OP FOREST TREES

is one of greater importance than farmers are generally inclined
to believe. They cultivate their fields for wheat and other cropsf
but they do not think much about the trees, though the con-
sumption of wood from year to year for different purposes is so
enormous that I am afraid to mention the figures. In the United
States a report has lately been prepared by Prof. Fernow, the Chief
of the Division of Forestry, which shows that the amount of wood
used annually for different purposes, for the construction and repair-
ing of railways and bridges, etc., is something appalling. The sup-
ply of wood in our country is being so reduced by lumbering
operations, settlement and forest fires, that it is necessary in all
parts of Canada to begin at once to renew the supply by tree plant-
ing. Year by year the farmers in new districts destroy enormous
quantities of timber in clearing their farms, but in a few years they
will have to seek for this material at a great distance. This makes
it all the more necessary for farmers to undertake the planting of
trees on their farms, not only to cover up this loss, but also as wind-
breaks and shelters for cattle, and it is very important for them to
know beforehand in what way they can do so to the greatest possible
benefit. The farmer is not always posted on the most advantageous

way of planting. Some will be surprised to hear that with many
o

34

trees it is more advautageous to grow them from the seed than to
transplant them of considerable size from the forest. Again some
of our iorest trees are very much more valuable than others, and
there is much yet to be learned with regard to the best trees to grow
on certain soils and in special localities. Extensive experiments
will be made in this direction, all of which will be of great use, so
that all efforts may be directed in a useful and methodical manner.
I will call your attention to two of our most useful and beautiful
native trees— the black walnut and the white ash. The first of these
is found wild in Canada, only within very restricted limits, and it is
supposed by some to grow only in places where it will obtain
a considerable degree of heat. As a matter of fact, it has been as-
certained that this tree will stand a much greater degree of cold,
and will thrive over a much wider area than was at first supposed.
At Ottawa it proved to be the second quickest growing Canadian
tree ; it has been planted in Quebec and has succeeded remarkably
well. It is one of the most valuable of our native woods, and is also
an extremely rapid growing tree ; and although there have appeared
during the last few years fabulous statements — which have done a
great deal of harm — as to what returns can be had from growing
walnuts, there is no doubt that by judicioas planting of this tree a
quick return for the money can be obtained. Another tree of special
value is the white ash. This tree is useful for certain purposes at a
moderate size, it grows easily and does not take up much room.
When farmers are planting trees they will find it advantageous to
know beforehand those which will give the quickest returns and
those which are the most valuable for timber. As I have said, all
such experiments as these will be tried carefully at the Central
Experimental Farm. Large numbers of different trees will be
grown from seed for trial in different parts of the country, in order
to ascertain where they do best, and what kinds can be grown to
the greatest advantage in certain districts. Efforts will also be made
to improve the different kinds of grains, fruits and other products.
It frequently happens that some varieties have qualities not possess-
ed by others, and by hybridising or crossing these it is sometimes pos-

35

Bible to produce a new variety with all the good qualities of its
parents consolidated. It is not wise to continue all the time with
old varieties which we know will succeed ; but with such an institu-
tion as

THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM

we shall be able to risk failure sometimes in the hope of getting
something new and useful, and I understand this is one of the objects
for which the farm was established by the Government. No
farmer can afford to run the risk of losing a whole year's crop in
trying new experiments. The Government by establishing this
institution has virtually shown its determination to help the far-
mers as much as possible. It is not right in such a new country
as Canada for individual farmers to have to risk large sums of
money in these experiments, important, nay necessary, as they
are. So the Government steps in and says, "I will have them done
for you and you shall have the benefit of the results." I believe that
the results obtained under the present direction will be highly
practical ; but the work will not end here, it will not be the obtain-
ing of results alone, these will be published periodically as bulletins
written in such a way as to be intelligible to all who may read
them, which will be distributed broadcast ail over the country.

Mr. Serson expressed himself as being very much pleased with
the address. He would like to hear Mr. Fletcher's opinion whether
the weather had not something to do with rust. He thought
that when warm, moist weather prevailed it was more favorable for
the production of rust. He would like to know whether in a dry
season a clean crop of wheat or oats might not be grown on a field
in which in the previous year with a warm, moist summer the crop
had been badly attacked by rust.

Mr. Fletcher said there was no doubt that under certain atmos-
pheric conditions all fungous plants were developed more rapidly
than at other times ; at the same time they could not come into ex-
istence spontaneously, they must all come from spores or seeds.
One season you may have planted in such a dry time that the
3*

36

spores do not get a start. You ceitainly might possibly grow even
on the same field where a crop had been badly attacked by rust in
the previous year, but under different atmospheric conditions, a
crop of wheat that might not be affected ; at the game time, as a
preventive remedy, it would bo far better to grow on that field
some other crop, clover or roots for instance, than to grow wheat
again the following season.

Mr. Serson said he had often seen in a field of wheat rich spots
where the wheat would be more affected with rust than on the
poorer parts.

Mr. Fletcher said very vigorous growing varieties of wheat would
sometimes suffer more from rust than others. Last year, before
the Agricultural Committee, the experience of diffeient members
of Parliament was given, and the report would be published next
session. He had no doubt Mr. Jamieson would be glad to furnish
his constituents who wished it with copies of this report. Thero
seemed to be no definite rule that could be laid down with regard
to rust on wheat, experience in different localities was so different.
One man would complain that a poor or weakly variety was at-
tacked worst by rust, while another would say that a free-growing
variety was most attacked. One gentleman went so far as to say
that all quick growing varieties were liable to rust.

Mr. McKinlay said he had noticed on the coast of Newfoundland
that if a foggy morning occurred at a certain period of the year he
always found his wheat rusted.

Mr. Fletcher said that in England it was probable that there was
hardly a crop of wheat grown which had not been, during somo
time of its growth, subjected to foggy weather, yet there were many
crops of wheat raised there without rust. It might be that if the
plant were in an unhealthy condition it would be more susceptible
to disease in foggy weather. As a matter of fact this rust on
cereals is more widespread than any other vegetable disease known.

Anjnteresting discussion followed, which it was impossible to

37

report owing to the darkness of the roDm. The meeting clo3ed
with the election of officers for the ensuing year.

The accompanying letter of Colonel Ravenhill, R.A, Inspector
and Purchaser of R.A. horses, signed also by Colonel Phillips and
Thomas Matthews, B. 1st Class, Royal Horse Guards, on the sub-
ject of the conditions afforded by Canada for the supply of horses
for the Cavalry service in England, and also an address by Colonel
Ravenhill to the Horse Breeders of Great Britain, are published
by direction of the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the interest
and importance of the information contained in them, in relation
to horse breeding in Canada, and particularly with a view to build-
ing up an important export traie for the Dominion.

Department of Agriculture,
Ottawa, 16th Marcb, 1887.

LETTER RESPECTING HORSES AND HORSE BREEDING
IN CANADA.

Royal Artillery, Remount Establishment,

Woolwich, 27th December, 1886.

Sir, — In compliance with the request contained in your depart-
mental letter of the 6th October last, I have the honour to forward
the following remarks which have occurred to the officers of the
British War Office Commission respecting the horses in Canada.

1. The result of the horse trade of the Dominion is not an easy
matter to arrive at, for there are no advertised horse or cattle fairs,
or other organized live stock markets, where collections of horses
and animals are to be found on sale, as is the case in all other horse
producing countries. Even just across the border in the United
States, the horse rearing localities have their periodical court days?

38

when, according to the season of the y oar, a considerable number,
or smaller quantity of animals are offered on sale ; and it would be
much to the benefit of the Canadian breeders if some similar plan
could be introduced by cc-operation throughout districts, on fixed
market or exhibition days, as a means of bringing the producer and
purchaser together in greater numbers, with corresponding advan-
tages for both sides, thus upsetting the existing monopoly. The
whole horse and cattle trade of Canada is at present in the hands
of Americans and a few other dealers, with some amateur horsemen
in each district, who regulate the rates, rule the breeders in their
respective districts and give whatever prices they choose, which are
low, and in the case of the American dealers are so small that it
repays them to take horses across the frontier to the extent of 11,000
last year, and yet be able to pay an import duty on their entering
the States of 20 per cent, on the declared valae of each animal.

2. The ignorance and innocence of the breeders and owners aa to
the comparative value of their animals may here be instanced. It
is stated that in some places where local or other exhibitions of stock
were being held, the agricultural authorities had most generously
got together subscriptions to help our work and offered considerable
money prizes at the autumn shows for horses best fitted for British
military purposes, when such indifferent animals were exhibited for
these prizes that it was not possible for us to award any premiums
or even purchase anything; in other parts of the same town where
we had appointed, good and excellent horses were collected for us to
see, many of which we purchased and in one or two cases had the
greatest difficulty to induce the owners to enter their animals so that
we might award them a prize and thus give what amounted to a
higher price for their horses.

In this matter the people require education, and time to under-
stand the system of dealing with their stock.

3. It may be desirable here to remark that if the opinions generally
of those men in Canada who are, at present, interested in or

39

connected with the horse trade, were asked, they might be found
antagonistic to these proposals as upsetting their monopoly, and it is
believed that the Canadian farmer is so slow to act or observe
that he might not at first appreciate what, if once introduced and
carried out, would prove to be for his material advantage.

4. In the present state of the horse trade of the Dominion, no
English or European dealer (where after all the great market is to
be looked for) could afford the time, or expense, of moving about
the country along great distances, and only being able to purchase
a very limited number of good, unblemished, sound animals.

5. The price of ahorse all over the world is fictitious, uncertain,
and dependent on what his manners are like, what he is fitted for,
his size, breeding, action, colour, appearance and power, &c, whether
he is for riding or draught, whether a good hunter or an indifferent
hack, whether he is blemished or not, and to ensure a good price
he must be sound and otherwise perfect, and any departure from
these may depreciate his value, whereas the price of a bullock is not
so regulated, it becomes a law of supply and demand, and is de-
pendent on the amount of human sustenance required, whether meat
or milk. Many of the horses of Canada are very good, and if a co-
operating market could be introduced, buyers from Europe, giving
good prices for good animals, would assemble, and the breeders
would get higher prices.

6. We think it right you should be informed that during our visit
to the Dominion, which occupied 167 days, we travelled 14,755 miles,
we examined 7,674 horses, of which we registered, to look at a
second time, 1,025, with the result that we were only able to pur-
chase for the Government 83 horses.

7. The prices of the whole of these were very reasonable and
moderate, and it was no question of money in the majority of cases
which prevented our purchasing in larger numbers.

We found that the great proportion of horses met with of the size
and sort suitable for British military purposes were unsound or

40

blemished, from the farmers overworking their stock when too youngr
thus breaking down tho young ones before they have developed into
horses.

The attention of breeders and farmers cannot be too strongly
drawn to this serious deterioration, and when the mares come to be
bred from, their ills are transmitted to their young stock.

8. The number of faulty and unsound stallions in districts is also
great, and creating much harm.

9. A malformation in the Canadian horses which might advan-
tageously be brought to the notice of breeders is that their quarters
are short and very drooping, a serious defect in a military horse.
Indeed we had to reject as unsuitable a considerable proportion on
this account; this is not only a great dissight, but where a mounted
soldier has to carry a kit on his horse's back it amounts to an in-
superable objection ; it has arisen from the too extensive use of the
American trotter for stud purposes, this defect being very apparent
in that horse. This is an additional reason for the more continuous
introduction of the English T. B. or such horses which are very
straight in their backs and quarters, with tail set on high.

10. Then, of course, the American dealers do not take away the
worst of the horses, and purchase many very valuable mares, leaving
in the Dominion the unsound malformed stock to be bred from,
which, put to unsuitable and in many instances unsound stallions,
transmit to their progeny their various parental ills, for unsoundness
in the horse is as surely hereditary as consumption, cancer, scrofula,
general weakness or unsoundness is among the human race.

11. It thus becomes a question whether the Canadian Government
cannot afford some direct help to this very valaable industry, so
needful and remunerative in time of peace, so requisite and indis-
pensable in time of war ; and it is suggested, on somewhat similar
grounds as has been successfully established in Australia, there
should be an inspector of horse breeding operations in Canada.

41

12. It is not desirable to interfere with free trade in horses or m
any way to place a prohibition or prohibitive duty on the sale or
export of mares, but on the other hand a considerable number of
remunerative premiums might be offered by the Government in
districts (for the next ten years) for brood mares of a certain size,
weight and standard, which must be laid down, with foals at foot,,
say $20 per head for the ten best, $12 per head for the second ten
mares, at each district show, with still larger premiums for stallions,
which would have also to be of a fixed weight, standard and quality,
thus inducing farmers to keep their best stock in the country.

13. Owing to the extended rail communication in the Dominion,,
farmers have not now so far to travel with their light, quick going
horses along roads as they had twenty years ago, and the large cities
and towns springing up have created a demand for heavier horses;
thus breeders have been turning their attention more to the class of
Clydesdale, Shire and larger horses, and have ceased to breed eo
many as formerly of the lighter, better bred, general purpose horse
which is that required for army purposes. Again, the people of
Canada are not a riding race ; you never see a boy riding a horse to
plough, nor a man on the back of an animal going to the village
forge. All travel on wheels in summer or hitch their horses to
sleighs in the winter time. The only riding horses made use of are
purely those for pleasure with the limited number of hunt clubs and
the still smaller quantities of people who, independent of those who
hunt, take horse exercise in and about the larger towns, together
with such horses as may be used in the yoemanry and other mounted
corps.

14. The consequence is that it is quite the exception when ahorse
with lengthy rein and quarters, good withers and lengthy sloping
shoulders, suitable for riding, is met with, this strain being only
procurable by a judicious admixture of the T. B. horse which should
be liberally subsidized by Government with extensive premiums for
all that are sound, of good size, bone, colour and action such as will
provide the requirements of the Western market.

42

(The importation into England alone is over 17,000 horses annually
all from foreign sources, so that this trade is worthy of consideration.)

15. What has been said respecting the horses in Canada West is
also applicable to those bred on the ranches, where excellent mares
of size, color and quality are to be met with which require judicious
weeding out and then mating to T.B. horses with bone, power and
action.

16. In conclusion we must b9g to express our gratitude for the
able and cordial advice and assistance rendered us throughout our
visit from yourself and the whole Department of Agriculture under
your administration. Our thanks are also due to Mr. Fred White
the Comptroller, to Colonel Herchmer, the Commissioner, together
with the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the North-
west Police, and the many gentlemen throughout Canada who have
afforded us so much help.

17. We have postponed replying to your letter in order that we
might refer the matter to the War Office with a view to obtaining
some instructions for the future. We are now directed to inform
you that, « so far as can be seen the horses which have been already
bought would appear to justify the purchase of additional numbers
annually in the future."

We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servants,

F. G. RAVENHILL, Colonel, R.A.,

Inspector and Purchaser R. A. Horses.

G. PHILLIPS, Colonel.

THOS. MATTHEWS, B 1st Class,

m . , Royal Horse Guards.

To the Hon. John Cabling,

Minister of Agriculture,
Ottawa.
P.S.— Three hundred horses may be bought in Canada next year
if they can be obtained within the prices and of the stamp required.

P. G. RAVENHILL, Colonel, R.A.

43

The following report has been communicated to the Minister of
Agriculture : —

ADDRESS TO HORSE-BREEDERS.

Delivered in the Committee-room of the Agricultural Hall at Isling-
ton, at the request of the Council of the Institute for Agriculture,
on Wednesday, 2nd March, 1887, by Colonel F. G. Ravenhill,
R.A., Inspector and purchaser of R. A. horses, on the occasion
of the stallion shows of the Hunters' Improvement and Hackney
Stud-Book Societies.

The Duke of Westminster, K.G., in the chair.

I have been asked by the Couucil of the Institute of Agriculture
to give a short address to-day on " the Breeding of Horses suitable
for Her Majesty's Service." The present time would appear to be
not altogether inappropriate for this purpose, when it is remem-
bered that great efforts are being made in various directions to
rouse breeders and agriculturists to the desirability of their recover-
ing for their own pockets a great portion of the third of a million of
money going out of the country annually in the purchase of an
average of some 17,000 foreign horses imported here for work;
all of which we could doubtless rear far better in England. In
support of this revival, let me refer you to that show of thorough-
breds at Newcastle, on the 25th of January last, and also to those
shows opened in London by the Shire Horse, the Hunters' Improve-
ment, and Hackney Stud Societies, with many other associations
formed or forming all over the country, at Lytham in Lancaster,
and at Sherborne in Dorsetshire, &c. This matter is of great public
and undoubted military importance, and if anything I can say to-
day will enable the British farmer in his present distress to think
of anything to improve his position and brighten his prospects, or
further any scheme for benefiting the breed of horses, more especi-
ally those required for military purposes, then my object will have
been gained, and I trust your valuable time may not altogether
have been wasted.

44

The subject of our British Horse supply has been continuously
brought to the notice of the public of lafe years, through the com-
mittee called for by Lord Eosebery in the House of Lords, in 1873 ;
by that splendid proposal of Lord Calthorpe's in 1875; again by
Mr. Chaplin, in the House of Commons, in 1875; subsequently by
Sir Fred. Fitzygram, Bart, M,P. ; since then General Sir Fred
-Roberts, Bart., at the Mansion House dinner; Colonel Keith Fraser,
in the pages of the Fortnightly Review; Major-G-enoral C. C. Fraser,
V.C., M.P.; Colonel Russell, Eoyal Dragoons, with many other
officers and civilians, have urged the necessity of some action being
taken, and within the last few days questions in both Houses of
Parliament have again been asked. In this country the horse
question is everyone's business in general, and nobody's in particular;
every Englishman considers he knows more on this subject than his
neighbors; he holds his own views, and pretty strong ones they
are, whether it be financially, when staking on his favorite for the
Derby, or his choice of a sire for stud purposes. Unfortunately, the
Government have no department or official to represent the horse
interest in this country as they have for recruiting ; all is left to
chance, and when a crisis arises, then irresponsible committees have
to be organized, and action has to be hurriedly and expressively
taken.

Before proceeding further, the question naturally arises as to
"what constitutes a military horse." They are distinctly of two
different kinds, though not more "warlike" than any other good
general purpose horse between 15 hands 2 inches and 16 hands high,
in general use all over the country. The first, the most important
and most difficult now to procure in any quantity, is that required
for riding purposes, with lengthy rein, good shoulders and forehand,
good back and loins, as well bred as we can get them; they must
walk freely and well, and at 5 years old should stand not less than
15 hands 2 inches high; of these we should have at least three-
quarters of the whole supply of 1,800 to 2,000 required in peace time
annually for the army, or about 1,500 riding horses. The necessity,

45

therefore, will be understood for our getting as much T.B. blood for
this purpose as we can procure. The seond, or draught horse, is a
compact, short-legged, quick walking, good going van horse, between
15 hands 2 inches up to 16 hands high, for Royal Artillery draught,
Eoyal Engineers and transport purposes. These are more easily
procurable all over the world, though in looking for them we prefer
a tight, ehort-legged, active horse, and before all things we look to
getting one that can walk freely and well, such as one sees trotting
about in parcel carts, or walking along a furrow at the rate of four
and a half miles an hour.

I will now read to you the particulars laid down for guidance
when we are purchasing remounts for the Royal Artillery or Royal
Engineers : —

(1.) The age at which horses are taken is between rising four and
rising seven years old.

(2.) The height is nothing under 15 hands 2 inches, and nothing
over 16 hands ; not less than 8 inches below the knee, or 72 inches
in girth.

(3.) The proportions in which horses are required for the Royal
Artillery at present are about half short-legged, blood horses with
some length ; the other half useful, quick-going, deep, weighty,
strong van horses for draught purposes, and half of these must have
a turn of speed for the quicker work of Horse Artilley.

(4.) Of the blood horses about one-fifth must have the making of
a first-class riding horse with breeding, power, shoulders, action and
appearance suitable for carrying an officer, the other four-fifths
must be well-bred, active riding horses with shoulders, action, and
substance sufficient to carry non-commisioned officers or men.

(5.) Bays, browns, chestnuts, or blacks of hardy color alone
taken; no greys, roans, duns, cream colour, or parti-coloured horses
are accepted, and no horses with any material blemish are purchased.

(6.) It is understood that during the month of probation on trial,
whilst standing at the dealer's risk, if horses on re-shoeing are found

46

below the standard height, with sunken soles, seedy toes, sand cracks,
&c, or are found crib biting, wind-sucking, or if unsound in the eyes,
wind or limb, or vicious, in or out of stable, they will be returned
to the dealer, who must send in another suitable horse in exchange,

(7.) Government prefer taking horses that are undocked, but no
horses will be accepted with a very short docked tail.

The age of a horse will be reckoned from the first of May in the
year in which it was foaled, and no remount horse will be purchased
prior to the 1st October in the year in which it becomes three years
old, except under the special authority of the Adjutant-General; or
later than the3lth December in the year in which it shall have
reached the age of six years. On and after the 1st October, three-
year-old horses will be purchased at four-year-old price.

The standard of height is fixed by the Commissioner-in-Chief.
The fitness of horses in point of appearance, strength and action
will be determined by the purchasing officer, and their soundness
will in each case be certified by an army veterinary surgeon.

The purchase money of troop horses on home service will be paid
by the regimental paymaster, under the directions of the command-
ing officer, and a statement of the particulars of the payments,
specifying the age of the horses, the actual price paid for each
horse, and the average price for the period of the pay-list in which
the charges are made, will be inserted in the pay-list. The charges
will be supported by receipts from the dealers for the amount paid ;
the price at present paid is £45 per horse.

Dealers from whom horses are purchased may receive for each
horse delivered to and passed at the headquarters of the corps, a
commuted allowance as follows: —

In the case of corps stationed in Ireland, 16s. for each horse.

In the case of corps stationed in Great Britain, 27s. for each horse.

In all cases the dealers will be held responsible for the risk and
expenses incurred, should the horse be injured on this journey, or
prove unfit for service on arrival at the regiment.

47

The following are some further instructions for our guidance : —
Examination of mouth and eyes ; measuring and examination
from near side ; cannon bone ; arms and thighs.

Every horse about to be examined should be taken under a shed,
archway, or to the stable door, where the light is suitable. The
veterinary surgeon first examines the mouth in order to determine
the animal's age, and at the same time he sees that there is no defect
in the jaw or teeth. The eyes should then be carefully inspected,
and, if they are found to be sound, the horse may be led out for
examination by the purchasing officer, care being taken that no
"gingering" is practiced. Any good-looking five or six-year-old
horse submitted at troop price should be treated with suspicion »
The purchasing officer will measure the horse, note the colour, and
observe from his near side how he stands all round on his feet and
legs ; whether he looks small or tied in below and at the back of the
knee. Every troop horse ought, if possible, to measure not much
less than eight inches round the leg close under the knee, and the
bigger and flatter he is here the better, for it is at this point that
strength is specially required. The cannon bone should be short
and, together with the tendons, distinctly defined; the arms and
thighs long and muscular, and the joints not small, but clean and
well developed.

KNEES, ELBOWS, HIND LEGS, HOCKS, PASTERNS, FETLOCKS.

The knees should not be back like those of a calf, nor too much
bent over like those of an old oab horse— though of the two evils it
is preferable that a horse should stand a little over at the knee
rather than back ; the elbows should be free; the hind legs must be
well placed under the body ; the hocks not too straight, yet not
sickled or bent ; they should be clean, well cut, and free from any
enlargement inside or out, or from any tendency to curb or thorough-
pin; the pasterns must neither be too short or upright, nor too loDg
and sloping ; the fetlocks should not show signs of work, too much
play either in these joints or in the pasterns produces overshooting,
which is a decided weakness. There are occasional swellings on

48

these parts, especially in young stock, arising from sickness, de-
bility, or contusions, which are sometimes mistaken for unsound-
ness.

FEET.

The feet should be of the same sizo, round in shape at the soles,
with good open heels, not small, contracted or flat ; the hoofs should
stand as nearly as possible at an angle of 50°, and tbey must not be
brittle, blocky, or ring.

HEAD.

In considering the shape of the head, it is important to note the
position of the eye, which should not be too low down, too far for-
ward, or too small ; the last named defeot is call "pig-eyed." The
forehead should be broad and the countenanco kind. Long big ears,
provided they are not lopped or drooping, are preferable to such as
are small, curved, or pointed, though these latter are no doubt
prettier. The head should be well set on to the neck at an angle
not too oblique or acute, and there should be sufficient room under
the jowl. The nostrils should be large and open. The lips not
drooping or relaxed. The jaws and teeth evenly placed above one
another.

NECK— SHOULDERS.

The neck should be convex and not concave, which latter is a
structural defect indicating weakness and is called " ewe-neck." It
should be well set into the shoulders, and these should be clearly
defined, sloping well back from the points to the withers. The points
of the shoulders ought not to be heavy. Fine high withers are a
great attraction, and enable the saddle to retain its proper position.
It is true that horses with thick or flat withers, or short, upright
shoulders, msy be suitable for draught, provided they have good
action.

BARBEL.

The barrel should be deep and arched behind the elbows, thus

49

affording space for the development of all vital organs. Every troop
horse should girth as much over 70 inches as may be procurable.

BACK AMD LOINS.

A long hollow back should be avoided. A " roach back " — though
ugly— -is strong. The loins should be as broad and deep as possible.

TAIL.

The tail should be set on high enough to be symmetrical. Fine
hair in the mane and tail shows breeding. The greater the length
from nose to withers and from hip to croup the better. Care should
be taken that the withers, shoulders, back and chin are free from
material blemishes,

EXAMINATION OF CHEST AND FORELEGS, &C, FROM FRONT.

While the horse remains standing, the position of the purchasing
officer may be changed from the near side to the front, so as to note
how he looks from this point of view, and to see how he stands,
whether he has sufficient breadth of chest. There should be no
blemishes about the knees, no enlargements or scars from brushing
inside the fetlocks, no marks from speedy- cutting under the knees,
and the situation of splints, if there be any, should be particularly
noticed.

shank Bone.
The shank bone should be straight and square under the body,
not bandied or twisted, but supporting properly the weight of the
body. The toes should neither be in nor out. One foot turned out
or in is unsatisfactory, because it indicates uneven action with an
uneven bearing of weight of the body either at rest or in motion.

EXAMINATION OF OFF SIDE AND REAR.

The off side must be examined in detail in the manner already

specified for the near side. The purchaser should then walk round

to the rear of the horse, and notice if the hocks are very much in or

bowed out — of the two the former is preferable. A horse ought to
4

50

be broad across the hips, and these must be even and level, the fork
should not be too much split up.

WALKING.

The horse must now be led off at a walk ; the purchaser should
keep behind him and note as he goes from him if he turns his toes
out or in, or whether there is too much play outwards or inwards in
the hocks. If he crosses his hind or fore feet or legs he should be
rejected. As the horse turns, he should be narrowly watched, and
as he walks past it should be seen that he puts his feet down even
and fair. The action of his fetlocks and pasterns must also be noted.
If there be decided knuckling or overshooting here, he must not be
taken. The walk should be free, the stride long and clear, the hocks
not bent, no dragging or catching of the hind or fore toes along the
ground, no " forging " from overreaching. When the toes are out,
the elbows are in, and the latter being tied, the fore action is often
cramped and contracted.

TROTTING.

The animal can now be trotted ,and as he goes from you it must
be noted if he crosses his fore or hind legs, which isdangerous; if he
dishes or turns one or both feet in or out, it is objectionable. Should
he roll in his stride, this may denote damage in the loins or hocks,
and the attention of the veterinary surgeon, who is responsible for
soundness, would naturally be called to these points. If there is any
catching in the action of the hind legs, he should be run sharply
backwards to ascertain that there is no paralysis; as the horse passes
it should be seen that he has good knee and hock action.

SPEEDY-CUTTING.

Speedy-cutting arises from faulty conformation of the fore legs, and
also from a peculiar kind of high action in front. It is the act of
striking one fore leg just below the knee with the inner quartor of the
other fore foot, a most acutely painful and dangerous thing, for which
a horse should be at once rejected.

51

REJECT FOR ANY ONE WEAK OR BAD POINT*

Although a horse is a good coloured, well topped, good going, taking
animal, yet, if he have one decidedly weak or bad point he must be
refused ; but here the veterinary officer's opinion will be most valu-
able, as many hors3S may be quite serviceable, though not absolutely
sound and may "in times of need" be fully equal to the requirements
of a compaign, and do much hard work.

RESTRICT PURCHASING TO 25 A DAY.

Purchasing horses is laborious work, and by the time that 25 or
30 have been examined, passed, and registered, the officers employed
will have exhausted much power, both of eye and brain* When
continued daily, purchasing should be restricted to 25 a day ; then
working for a special object, seventy a day have often been exam-
ined, but it is not practicable to do justice to such a number. Yery
good and very bad animals are soon disposed of ; it is the middling
and doubtful horses which take up the time: further it may be ac-
cepted as a general rule that the first impressions of a horse are the
most correct and lasting.

EXAMINATION ON BEING RECEIVED INTO DEPOT AND
BETURNED IF UNFIT.

On remounts being received into depots they should be lunged at
once — if fit for it — to try their wind, unless this has been done
previously, and they should also be generally reexamined under the
direction of the veterinary surgeon. Their shoes should be taken off
and the feet examined for sand cracks, seedy toes, sunken soles, &c.
They should be carefully re-measured and registered, and if, on
being re-shod, they are found below the necessary height, or if any
unsoundness is detected in eyes, feet, wind, or limbs, or if they are
found vicious in or out of the stable, they should be returned. On
the other hand, if fit, they should be branded on the hoof, in accord-
ance with the regulations on that subject.

Horses in general fall naturally into two great divisions — riding
and draught — according to the particular way in which their physi-

52

cal formation and breeding enables them most advantageously to
apply their force. A man who has a knowledge and appreciation
of horses can tell to which of these divisions any given animal be-
longs; but it may be laid down as a general rule that a riding hoise
should be better bred and should have a more sloping shoulder, a
longer forehand, with more flexible and lighter action than a draught
horse. Again, these two divisions are conveniently subdivided, the
first into two, the second into six classes, making altogether eight
classes, which would stand as follows : —

1. 1st class riding horses for officers, staff sergeants, trumpeters,
a-nd the riding establishment.

2. 2nd class riding horses for detachments of Horse Artillery and
Non-Com missioned Officers of Field Artillery.

3. Horse Artillery lead and centre horses.

4. Horse Artillery wheelers.

5. Light Field Artillery lead and centre horses.

6. Light Field Artillery wheelers.

7. Heavy Field Artillery lead and centre horses.

8. Heavy Field Artillery wheelers.

The difference between 1st and 2nd class liding horses is one
merely of breeding, appearance and degree ; the same may be said
in comparing classes 3 and 5, and classes 4 and 6 respectively.
Heavy lead and wheel horses (classes 7 and 8) differ from light lead
wheel horses (classes 5 and 6) in having more weight and power.
As regards lead and wheel horses, whether for Horse or Field Artil-
lery, the low size, thick set horses should be selected for wheelers,
those which are higher being told off as centre or lead horses, thus
ensuring a regular and upward line of draught. Where practicable
the hand horse of a pair should be higher than the near side one.

EXCESS OF RIDING HORSES NECESSARY.

From the days of Wellington onward (vide the " Wellington De-
spatches" 22-6- 1809,— 27-6-1809,— 25 8-1809,— 5 2-1811, — 10-2-1813) ,

53

there has always been a difficulty in obtaining sufficient riding
horses, and when purchasing for the service, a surplus of Officers'
and other riding horses may advantageously be taken, for if properly
selected, it would be impossible to utilize them for draught purposes.

EXCESS OP WHEELERS.

Again, if every draught horse which is bought be powerful enough
to be used, when necessary, as a wheeler, the service would be
thoroughly efficient.

Having detailed the class of horse required for the Koyal Artillery
and Eoyal Engineers, I now submit directions drawn up for the
guidance of Cavalry officers in the purchase of horses for their branch

of the service.

*

Of course it is not as eas^ to judge of the future make and shape of
a young horse as it is to judge of an aged one, whose conformation
is fully developed. Still, there are certain defects which are as
easily seen in young horses as older horses ; and these faults, at
least, may be avoided by a fair amount of care, practice and judgment.

Especial care, indeed suspicion, is also needed, when a good-
looking horse of 5 or 6 years old is offered at the troop price. The
chances are that there is some fault, which others have already
found out.

A horse should be rejected for any ore really bad fault. The
greatest strength of a horse is limited by his worst point. Horses
are often bought because they possess one or more very good points.
This is a wrong principle in baying. The selection of horses should
begin by rejection for bad points. Bad points are, of course, in a
great measure, a question of degree. Discretion is needed in reject-
ing as well as in buying.

1. Size. Four-year- olds, Le.t three off after October 1st, should
not be less than 15 hands 0 J inch nor exceed 15-lJ for light cavalry.

For medium they should not be less than 151 nor over 15*2.

For heavy cavalry not less than 15 2 nor over 15*3 J.

54

N.B. — In measuriDg a horse or judging of his height and size by
sight, take care that he stands on a level with yourself. Dealers
generally stand a horse, if undersized, on higher ground, or if over
size, on lower ground than the intending purchaser.

2. Want of a fair amount of breeding shouM be an absolute bar.
3* Reject a horse with a big coarse head.

4. Eeject a horse with a small sunken eye. They are generally
obstinate and sulky.

5. Reject a horee of a colour light of the sort.

6. Reject a horse with a long slack back. It will not carry weight.

7. Rejact ahorse with a hollow back. The formation is weak.

8. Rejpct a horse with flat sides. They will not do work or look
well.

9. Reject a horse with a slack loin, i.e., undue length between the
last ribs and hind quarters (sacrum). They are often bad feeders,
and will run up light with work.

10. Reject a horse with a light loin, i.e., want of breadth over the
loins. They run up light with work.

11. Reject a horse with scraggy hips. They never do credit to
feeding, particularly if also slack in the loins.

12. Reject a horse with a bad girth, i.e., " light through the heart."
This formation will always cause trouble in saddling.

13. Reject a horse with a thick or short neck.

14. Reject a horse unless it has a good rein. With a clumsy
neck the head is in consequence badly set on. Without a good rein
a horse will never break well.

15. Reject a horse with very low withers. The saddle will be apt
to work forwards, and the " rein" will probably be deficient, and the
leverage for the muscles of the forehand is defective.

16. Reject a horse if very short. There is not room enough for
the kit.

55

N.B. — To see the above points (1 — 16) stand on the side and form
your opinion before the horse moves off.

17. Eeject a horse with a narrow or shallow chest. There is not
sufficient capacity for the lungs.

18. Eeject a horse with fore legs very close together. This and
the former defect generally go together. To see these points stand
in front.

19. Eeject a horse whose fore legs are not straight- They will
not stand wear. Stand behind the horse as he walks away from you»
and you will be able to notice these defect?, if they exist.

20. Eeject a horse which is light below the knee, especially if im-
mediately below the knee. The conformation is essential weak.

21. Eeject a horse with long, or with short, or with upright
pasterns. Long pasterns are subject to strains. Short or upright
pasterns make a horse unpleasant to ride, and, on account of extra
concussion, are apt to cause ossific deposits.

22. Eeject a horse with toes turned in or out. The twist generally
occurs at the fetlock. Toes turned " out" are more objectionable
than toes turned " in." When toes are turned out, the fetlocks are
generally turned in, and animals so formed are very apt to cut or
brush* Both, however, are weak formations.

23. Eeject a horse whose hind legs are too far behind. Good pro-
pelling power will be wanting, and disease as a result may be ex-
pected in the hocks.

24. Eeject a horse which goes either very wide or very close be-
hind.

25. Eeject a horse with very straight or very bent hocks. The
former cause undue concussion, the latter are apt to give way.

26. Eeject a horse which is " split up," i.e., shows much daylight
between his thighs. Propelling power comes from behind, and must
be deficient in horses without due muscular development between
the thighs.

56

27. Eeject a horse with flat feet or over-large feet, also with
very small feet. Medium size are the best.

28. Eeject a horse with one foot smaller than another.

Action must be light, easy, free, and straight. Eeject a horse that
crosses his legs in walking or trotting. He will be unsafe. Freedom,
power to move easily along, is the great point in a young horse.
Knee-action is not essential ; it will come with the bit and breaking.

A good walk is absolutely essential. Eeject a horse that does not
walk well ; he is never pleasant to ride. If a horse walks well, he
will probably trot well ; but a horse may trot well without walking
well.

To ascertain whether the action is true and straight, stand behind
the horse as he walks and trots away from you. You cannot as-
certain this important point by standing on the side.

Never omit to stand behind a horse a9 he walks away.

A good sloping shoulder is an important item in a riding horse,
but bad action may co-exist with a good ; and vice versa, good, free
action may cc-exiat with a somewhat straight shoulder.

Eeject a horse which is straight in the shoulder and long from the
point of the shoulder to the upper part of the forearm. This for.
mation places the fore legs too much under the horse, and makes
him unsafe to ride.

You may have a plain horse, even if all the above very apparent
defects are absent, but you will at least have a serviceable one.

Having first cf all kept clear of all absolute defects such as the
above, then select your horses for the presence of good, serviceable,
and handsome points, and easy, free, graceful carriage.

But, I repeat, begin by rejection for any one positively bad defect.
The greatest strength of a chain is limited by the strength of its
weakest link.

In purchasing horses, it is a great point not to lose time. If jom
see any one radical defect, reject the horse at once. The dealer will,
of course, try and persuade you to do otherwise, and will call your
attention to some very good point or points in the really defective
animal.

Don't lose time. If you do you may get pressed for time, may
be obliged to make only cursory inspection of animals presented
late in the day, and may end by buying inferior horses, which you
would have rejected in the morning.

It should be noticed that only a few greys are required (viz., about
50 a year) for the 2nd Eoyal Dragoons.

Mares are purchased as well as geldings, but no stallions. Horses
which are broken are preferred, but a troop horse purchased cheap,
when young, is not necessarily a perfectly broken animal with
manners and accomplishments, so long as they are halter broken
and appear kind and temperate.

No horse is ever taken with a blemish of a material nature.

It has been represented to me on several occasions, and people-
have been writing to the papors on the subject, that Government
ought to pay more for their horses; indeed, there is a proposal in
one of the weekly agricultural papers of the week before last sug-
gesting that the price for horses should be increased to £50 per
head. The whole question is one of supply and demand, and is
dependent on the state of the market.

I have, therefore, drawn out the following table, giving some?
figures on the subject : —

58

HfiTUftN showing the numbers of horses in Great Britain not em-
ployed in agriculture, &c, during the past few years, taken
from the agricultural returns; also the number of horses im-
ported into England, the number of horses in possession, aad
the prices paid per head, during a series of years, by the Gen-
eral Omnibus Company, also the prices paid by Government
for their horses during the same period.

NUMBER OB' HORSES.

Years ending 31st
December,

1876
1877
1878
4879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886

Imported

into Great

Britain.

la the
whole of

Great
Britain.

The General Omni-
bus Company.

In Posses-
sion.

Prices
per head.

41,148

30,524

26,521

15,246

9,264

9,050

8,827

9,627

12,928

13,023

11,027

£s d.

1,080, 000
1,092,272
1,231,000
1,413,578
1,410,596
1,414,377
1,405,789
1,425,359

7,674
6,914
6,935
7,294
7,531
7,695
7,944
8,124
8,589

39 5 1

39 8 10
35 1 4
35 7 2
35 6 3
35 1 0
84 14 9
34 5 8
33 17 5

Paid by
Government
for troopers.

£ s,

40 to 48 10

48 10
48 10
45 0

*In this year the supply of English horses was noted as much
improved.

From this it will be seen that between 1879 and 1886, although
the number of horses estimated as in Great Britain has been steadily
increasing, yet the average number imported during those years has
been more or le3s decreasing, that whilst the numbers in possession
of the largest employers of horses in the kingdom next to the Govern-
ment, the General Omnibus Company, has been steadily rising owing
to increased traffic, yet the prices that have been paid during this
course of years has as steadily decreased from £39 8s. lOd. in June.
1879, to £33 17s. per head during the year ended December, 1886f
whilst the prices paid by Government for a similar period have also
decreased, but stand in a higher ratio than those purchased for
private use.

59

It is overlooked that the 2,000 remounts annually required to keep
up the present Government supply are but a very small proportion
of the requirements of the public ; the question of value then, and
prices to be paid is one of public demand, and not one in which the
Government would be expected to pay a larger price than the
market value decides on.

We have to congratulate ourselves that we are producing more
horses in this country, doubtless, owing to the increasing interest
taken in the matter, the action of the different societies, and the
deficiency which has become apparent; without doubt the population
has increased and the public wants must be supplied, but the popu-
lation cannot have increased in proportion to the extent that the
number of horses have as gathered from this return*

The question now presents itself, are the numbers of horses we are
producing of the right sort for general and military purposes ? I
think not.

What the army requires, what the public needs, and what every
man uses who can afford it, whether for hunting or driving, is a large
supply of the up-standing, three parts bred, general purpose horse,
of good substance and colour, between 15* 2 and 16 hands high, such
as used to be bred in numbers by our fathers for general work in the
stage coaches all over England, and which the railways have caused
to disappear.

Such a horse can only be produced by the continuous and more
general use of T. B. sires all over the country, and we must do some-
thing to produce these within reach of farmers in breeding districts,
at as low a fee as can possibly be arranged for ; the Royal Agricultural
Society of England, also the Hunter's Improvement Society, is doing
much in this direction, but the need for good is so widespread that it
should go further, and the money now given in Queen's Plates
annually for racing, which was originally given " to improve the
Breed of Horses in England," should be diverted for this purpose,
and as it comes out of the pockets of the ratepayers, it lies with you
all to see that it is thus properly applied.

60

My own idea is that the money now given for Queen's Plates would
be more beneficially used in the shape of subsidies by apportioning it
out to the Royal Agricultural, the Hibernian;Caledonian, the Hunter's
Improvement, and other kindred societies, to be given away in pre-
miums for good stallions, provided they come up to a certain standard
of excellence, are sound and will be available in fixed districts in
Great Britain and Ireland during the ensuing season at small fees.

A regular list of these horses and the districtg they will be in
should be registered in the offices of the societies where, on appli-
cation by the owners of mares, there would be no difficulty in learn-
mg the nearest available sire.

In the choice of districts, select those near large railway junctions
or stations to enable men with mares to send them in from surround-
ing villages, such as Aberdeen, Ballinasloe, Beverley, Bridgewater,
Cardigan, Carmarthen, Chester, Clonmel, Cockermouth, Cornwall,
Denbigh, Dumfries, Doncaster, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, How.
den, Kendal, Lincoln, Lytham, Limerick, Moy, Co. Tyrone, Mullin-
gar, Northallerton, Northampton, Penrith, or Kirby, Stephen,
Ripon, Sherborne, Warwick, Wigton, York.

If this money is not to be given for premiums through the large
societies, ss has been suggested, I feel sure, if a capable man were
handed over that £5,000 now given for Queen's Plates each year, he
wculd arrange to spend it more profitably for the country than it
now is. Let him make a commencement by —

Purchasing 4 thoroughbred stallions at £500 each. £2,000
do 4 roadsters 300 do 1,200

Hire 4 thoroughbred stallions at £200 for each sea-

80n . 800

Hire 4 roadsters at £100 each 400

£4,400
Expenses, say 600

£5,000

61

Any district that can guarantee 70 serviceable useful mares for the
eight thoroughbreds at a fee of £2 each, and of 60 good mares for
the eight roadsters at £2 10s. each, the manager would arrange to
send the mares, realising on account of fees, £1,120 for thorough-
breds, and £720 for the roadsters; total, £1,840, which should well
cover all expenses, as follows : —

Groom and attendant at each station, £120x8 £960

Keep of 16 horses, contingents, rental £1 per week... 832

Total £1,792

These figures might possibly work out more favorably.

There is no doubt a great scarcity of fit mares for breeding from
throughout the country, but there is also a greater scarcity of good
reliable stallions ; and regarding the deficiency of mares, I believe if
good sound horses were forthcoming, farmers would soon get and
keep mares, provided they could get a sale for their young stock
which I will touch on presently.

Gentlemen have been in communication with me on the subject
of helping farmers to procure mares. Frank Lovell, Esq., of
Hincheslea (a rare horseman) writes : —

" Individual breeding is hopeless, but associations might do much;
no amount of prizes to stallions will increase the breed, which is
what we want; what we ought to have is some tens of thousands of
Horse Artillery mares, to add to the bone and power of our two
often waedy half-mile T.B's, or before long we shall all have to
walk. A county organization always ready to take good mares and
always having at command the services of one or more approved
stallions would be an invaluable resource; for all gentlemen having
mares to part with, as well as for the breeding farmers who now are
at their wits' end to know where to look for good stallions; if well
managed and supported the business ought to pay, but if only 2nd
or 3rd class horses are provided, numbers of animals are produced ;
whilst every farmer, horse dealer, and tradesman in England is
benefited."

62

This gentleman submits for our consideration the following
proposals : —

u (1.) Every county to support its own horse-breeding establish-
ment (some more than one).

" (2.) Lord Lieutenants and principal gentlemen be asked to start
and support it.

" (3.) All cast mares from the service suitable for stud to bo offered
to it : and artillery and other government mares purchased.

" (4.) Annual, biennial or triennial sales without reserve.

" (5.) Details and establishment of expenditure and system to be
carefully prepared.

" (6.) Government to be invited to assist in all ways possible.

" (7.) The proposition, when placed before the public, to have all
the best names attached to it.

" (8.) Annual subscriptions of county gentlemen £10 to£l each."

Then 1 have another suggestion from a gentleman who hunts in
the shires, and who is getting together a local society to purchase
at a moderate rate, any sound, fit mare3 procurable, to retail to
breeders in their hunting countries. He also suggests that some
arrangement should be made by which the Government should per-
mit troop mares, after a few years in the service, to be resold to
farmers and breeders at a reduced rate ; then other societies in some
of our large horse-proiucing countries have been in correspondence
with me, in their endeavor to get Government sanction that Local
Agricultural Committees should be permitted to come, select and
purchase the best of the troop mares annually for breeding purposes.

Gentlemen, in the interests of the service, seeing that a large pro-
portion of troop animals are mares, I do not consider this could be
done; but I have suggested somewhat the following— when troop
mares are being cast for certain causes rendering them unfit for the
service, but still no hereditary or other breeding defect about them,
that such sale should be notified to any local societies who choose to

63

be constituted in a responsible way, and every facility should be given
for members to previously inspect them and, on the day of public
auction sale they could bid for the animals. After this has been done
for a term of years, say five, such societies would be in a position,
through the .Royal Agricultural or other societies, to go to Govern-
ment and represent that during the past term of years, a certain
number of horses have been purchased at an average price, and then
ask what rates Government could permit mares a few years younger
to be purchased. Possibly some arrangement could be arrived at in
this way, as then Government and the public would have certain
figures before them as valuation data to go on.

If any farmer or breeder requires a mare ani will pay for it, will
communicate with me at 64, The Common, Woolwich, telling what
he requires, and the price he wants to give for it, I will see what can
be done towards procuring the mare for him.

We must now consider what is to be done as to the disposal of the
produce, my idea being you should only breed for the best ; there
will be plenty of misfits, it is no use trying to breed a good horse on
soil and climate that is unsuitable, or on pasture that will not carry
a horse ; do not endeavor to breed a troop horse, try and produce an
animal that will grow into the best hunter, if he misses that mark,
and has not the appearance and action for a first-class harness horse
he will make a trooper, you have, therefore, two first-class markets
to think of where high prices can be realised, before you hope to sell
to the Government.

There is a proposal circulated by Mr. Gilbey in a letter to the
papers a few days since, that Government should purchase two-
year-olds, graze them themselves on their own grasslands until old
enough to issue out to the troops ; another member of the House of
Commons just lately asked if Government could not arrange that
their purchasers should advertise their dates of purchasing in differ-
ent districts ? I foresee no difficulty in carrying out these arrange-
ments, provided the Government think it desirable to do so, and
doHbtless some such plan in the existing state of things would do

64

much to help the farmer in his struggle for existence, without
much, if any, additional cost to the country.

I should recommend breeders putting a three parts bred, or even
half bred, strengthy, long, low, wide, good colored, good constitu-
tioned, hereditary sound mare, of from 15*1 to 153 in height, not
too old, with good limbs and lengthy forehand, to good colored, good
limbed sound T.B. stallions.

If any man has by him a lighter, batter bred, active, good colored,
well dispositioned mare on short legs, put her to a pedigree roadster
or hackney stallion of undoubted family, color and soundness.

Should you not know where to find stallions in your particular
district, apply for information to the secretaries of either the
Hunter's Improvement or Hackney Horse Societies, who will,
doubtless, be able to afford you the necessary directions of owners
of horses who possess sires.