Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-09-13
2Fericilltlrral Department
DISTINGUISHED HORsEs---PRIN-
CTPLEs or BREEDING.

ton Thoroughbred is conventional
term, signifying a pure breed that can
be traced back through FIVE or six gen
erations 10 the most famous progenitors
Of superior horses IL is beyond dispute
that all the excellence of English and
American thoroughbred horses is de-
rived from Oriental blood of the desert,
in Arabia, Syria, Persia. Turkistan, the
Barbary States, Nubia and Abyssiuia,
the races of which greatly resemble each
other.
Every effect must have cause the
horse has been greatly improved during |
modern times; the question arises wheth-
er this improvement is the effect of con-
stitutional excellence, wholly or in part,
or whether it is solely the effect Of cul-
tivation? Hereditary law lays the
foundation upon which the superstruct-
ure is reared. We must draw our con-
illusions from the history of good horses,
and from a review of their genealogy,
or the sources from which they spring
It is claimed by those familiar with the
history Of the horse through its various
stages Of improvement in England, that
there is a larger proportion of Barb than
pure Arabian blood and that, therefore,
such horses as can trace their descent to
this breed are the most likely to pos
soss in the highest degree, the desirable
characteristics of speed and bottom.
Every careful and exact breeder should
constantly keep before the mind these
two fundamental laws which govern de-
scent First, the law of heredity, or
that by which like begets like. The off
spring are like the parents.
Second, the law of variation, that is,
while the offspring are, in all essential
characteristics, like their immediate pro-
genitors. they, nevertheless, vary more
or less, within narrow limits, from their
parents and from each other. Some Of
these variations are indifferent, some
deteriorations, some improvements f; that
is. they are such as enable the animal
to exercise its functions to a greater ad.
vantage.
Men can produce very marked varie
ties as 10 structure and habits of ami
mails this is exemplifed in the produc
ton Of different breeds Of horses, cattle
sheep, dogs, and especially in the cas-,
Of pigeons OF these the diversity o.
breeds is astonishing Some have lOnl
and some very short bills; some hav
long feet, some small some long necks
others long wings and tails, while other
have singularly short tails some hav
thirty and even forty tail feathers, in
stead Of the normal number of twelve Q
fourteen. They differ as much IN il
stinet as they do in form. Some ar
carriers, some pointers, some tumbler
some trumpeters; and yet all are d,
scendants of the rock pigeon, which
still extant.
Artificial selection must be adopte
as antithetical 10 natural selection
The progeny must be purified by wee,
ing out all the worthless stock tn
would entail defects, leaving nothir
but good constitution unauthorized wi
disease to inherit. The pure and und
filed are united for generations to pu
fly the fountain head so that their 81
cessors in blood will have a pure inh,
itance to submit to their descendants.
1t is sometimes difficult to sort out
tares from the wheat to rank the Il
aristocracy Of their class. Many n
takes have been made in this line VIII
subsequently demonstrated the imp
lection Of human judgment, and indie
the necessity of more thorough exa
ination Of each and every specimen
fore it is fully rejected as unworthy
place among the most valued CONF
itors.
Dexter was parted with for v
small sum at his first sale, on accoun
his white legs and blazed face, subj
ing him to the sneers and ridicule o
deluded public; but when those W
legs could pass, without great eff
every horse Of his day, and that W
nose appeared first on the home sire
he sold for the fabulous price of s
600. Flora Temple is said to have
when colt for $780, she was at lea
diminutive pony, but gradually ros
the market to sI75 at FIVE years oil
She afterwards sold for $4,000, on
count of her superior action, and W
have brought twice that sum at four
years old, when she made 2:l9 at
amaEoo. Rysdyk's Hanbletonian.
king Of trotting sires, never ST
in race. He carved out his ow
fortune as the sire Of such trotter
Dexter, Nettie and others of great
He commenced his services in the
at $50 mare. He is ending his {
at $500 to insure a colt.
Hereditary law lays the found
upon which the superstructure is n
What constituted the success o
Messenger. or his grandson Add