Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-02-12

DTlnR SoUO tO-udy lndJ Woulu pTODduly
have sold for $1,000 three or four years
ago, for the simple reason that they were
nearer the top of fashion then than now,
and because blood and individuality are
Judged by higher standards now than
then. Again, fashions change. The
public eye is ever watching for the ris-
ing star, and as soon as the rush sets in
for a new and sensational strain of blood
the market for the strains thus deposed
from first choice IN popular favor some
what wcakens. We can all remember
when Volunteer blood was all the rage.
Then Almont blood became the correct
thing, and he in turn was eclipsed by
George Wilkes. Almont and Volunteer
blood is good, stout and prolific, but it
does not arouse the spirit of hot compe-
tition in the sale-rings to-day, and even
| the blood of George Wilkes is beginning
to feel the effect of the ascendancv of the
Eectioneer and otheryounger and rapid
ly rising families.
/ But all this does not argue that the
/ trotting market is unhealthy, but rather
/ the reverse. The fact that that which
brought the top prices in the past sells
for moderate prices now does not neces-
,arily signify IA weakening of the marke t.
The same and better prices are yet ready
to tie paid for the best material of TO-DAY
aS were ever paid for the best material in
the past, but we are progressing, and the
best material OF to-day is better than
what was esteemed the best material of "A
few years ago. SO we are brought bac k
to the conclusion before advanced in
these columns. that the market for the
choicest blood is stronger than ever be-
fore, while there has been and will be Il
decline in the monetary value of medi-
OGRE aud ordinary trotting material.
But this is by no means a misfortune,
because, to put the patent fact in other
terms, $500 Will buy better blood, or
more good blood, than it would five years
ago. Good blood Is becoming common
er and hence the horse stock of the coun-
try is being improved. In answer to the
question recently as to whether there
was not danger of an Over-productlon OF
standard trotting blood, some one aptly
remarked: "Not so long as there is
scrub mare or stallion in the country
Certainly the increasing, the spreading
, and as IA natural result the cheapening OF
good trotting blood cannot but woil
benefit to the general horse stock, anC
to the farmers and small breeders of the
nation.
The observing breeder will not misun.
derstand the mandate of the market.
is to keep close up to demonstrated mer
it, to delve into the blood that fashion
, demands, and to have individual capaci
- ty and elegance with it. Remember tina
+ every generation you are removed from
blood that is fashionable, that has pro
E duced, and that has trotted, the value o
what YOU have is lessened. The grand
son of great parents no longer com
mands attention unless he prove himsel
: worthy of his grandparents. and tn
q same is true. though perhaps in less de
j gree, of sons of great parents. Arion'
brother will not probably sell for one
q tenth of Arion's price. The advance
public intelligence demands animals O
n rich, fashionable, producing blood tina
# are themselves trotters, and only sue
will bring fancy prices.