Connecticut western news., 1893-10-26
HORSE BREEDING.
Its Prospects In tho Middle Section of tine
 Union. The Breeders Gazette says:

 Its Prospects In tho Middle Section of the
 Union.
 The Breeders Gazette says:
 That there has been q marked falling off in the demand for stallions of tho various draft breeds during the past few years Is the testi- mony of all leading importers and breeders. Importations have practically ceased and sales of pure bred horses-except for those of out standing merit-have been slow and at a ma terinly lower range of values than were cur rent a few years ago. That service fees should have fallen to low point as a result of the wide distribution of entire horses-good, bad and indiffercnt-seeking the patronage of farmers is not matter for surprise, and with a view toward determining what lengths the demoralization of rates had extended and to ascertain also the general feeling in regard to the style of horses most in request this season The Gazette put out short time since query calculated to bring out the facts.
 Several hundred good farmers and stockmen In the states of Illinois. Iowa, Missouri, Ran- sas and Nebraska were asked to advise us as to the kind of horses most generally patronized by owners of farm mares this season and to indicate the range of service fees. It is clear that service fees have fallen to a figure where the stallion keeper has to do some close fgur- ing to "pay out" Those who have been se- duced into paying big price for poor horse arc of course in m uneviable position. The man who pays a long figure for a really tiptop horse of fine quality and choice breeding will como much nearer making profit in the long run than he who brings in "pelter" simply because hc could buy him cheap and stand him at Il nominal fee.
 Big horses with style md quality are still commanding remunerative prices, as are also fine drivers, trained saddlers aud choice coach and carriage stock. It Is the great mass of weedy stock-unsound, blemisxed, poorly built and undersiZed horses, devoid of finish and quality, such as result from patroniging cheap mongrel or grade sires-that arc drug on the market
 If we may be allowed to perpetrate "an Irish bull" the kind of horse most in favor in many sections Is the mule. Jacks have done O big seasons work in many counties, and we must confess that those who have patronized them have, generally speaking, shown more sense than those who have bred good work mares to scrubby mongrel or nondescript stud horses. The jack is purely bred sire at least, and one knows just about what Is to be expected from his service, and the mule is by means the worst selling animal of the day. From the scrub stnllions you do not know what will come. As between them and the ass the jack Is to be preferred every time.
 A summary of the reports to The Ga zette would make the stallion fee in the states named average about S. The price ranges all the way from $2 to $50. The reports show extremes of mixed breeding that are enough to drive one crazy. Horses in some sections have been nearly ruined by breeding draft mares to trotters. Many common, farm CTS are attempting to get fast trotters. Not one in twenty succeeds, and flood of horses no good for anything is poured upon tho community, sending the price of them down so low that it does not just at present pay to breed 8 good horse in those localities.
 In the midst of the confusion a few fixed conclusions can be arrived at. One is that pure bred, first class draft horses and carriage horses are always in de- mand, and trotters to considerable ex- tent, too, if one can be sure they are go- ing to be fast. The Clydesdales, Perch erons, French coach horses and trotters are the breeds most popular in the states indicated. There are also some Shires and Belgian drafts, with faint sprin- king of thoroughbreds. The Hackney is practically unknown. Little attempt is made to develop breeds of saddle horses.