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CANADAS AID TO THE THOROUGHBRED. Concerning the recent decision of the Canadian government to encourage the breeding of cold-blooded mares to thoroughbred stallions, the Toronto. Globe says: "During recent years many appeals have bqa made to the Hon. Sydney Fisher, minister of agyf- culture, by horsemen anxious to briiig about an improvement in the quality of our light horse stock, and who are of opinion that for this purpose an Infusion of thoroughbred blood is essential. Recognizing the force of these appeals, as well as the importance of the subject, Mr. Fisher has decided to grant assistance under certain specified conditions to persons maintaining thoroughbred stallions for service in the various provinces. In deciding upon this step the minister has been largely influenced by the fact that while stallions of other recognized breeds, when in capable hands, are as a rule fairly profitable, this is" seldom the case with regard to the thoroughbred, the advantages of breeding to horses of this class being unfortunately not fully realized bv the present generation of Canadian farmers. Tile lack in our "light horses of the quality derivable only from the infusion of thoroughbred blood is the subject of adverse comment by all European horsemen who visit the Dominion with a view to investigating its possibilities as a field for the purchase of horses, whether for military purposes or for ordinary saddle or harness use. In this connection it should be remembered that while horses for the last named, or, in fact, for any of these purposes, may well be bred from sires other than thoroughbred, it is of importance that on the side of the dam there should, in order to produce the best results, be, in such cases, a strong admixture of thoroughbred blood. "The conditions under which assistance will he given are as follows: 1 All horses on account of which aid is given bv the department must be registered in the Thoroughbred Stud Book of the Canadian National Live Stock Records. 2 Horses shall be of good size, quality and conformation, and shall be free from all hereditary unsoundness, these conditions to be ensured by submission anually to a thorough, careful examination either at the hands of the veterinary director-general, or such other members of the veterinary staff of the department or other persons as the minister mav from time to time appoint for this purpose. 3 Horses so approved shall be duly and properly advertised to stand for services of mares, under the ordinary and general conditions usual in the districts in which they are to bo kept, at an annual service fee except in the case of thoroughbred mares of not more than 0 to insure such service fee to become due and payable only when mares prove to be in foal. "Any person, firm or corporation owning or controlling any thoroughbred stallion in regard to which all of the conditions above set forth slwFll have been dulv and properly fulfilled, shall, on production of satisfactory evidence thereof, and of the fact that a reasonable number of mares other than thoroughbred mares, have been served during the season, be entitled to receive at the close of each such seasou the sum of 50 from the funds of the Live Stock Branch. If, in the event of a horse-dying or becoming incapacitated for service during the season, an approved substitute is immediately placed in the same district, the minister may, after due consideration of the circumstances, authorize the payment of the subsidy above mentioned. "The necessary forms will he furnishqd on application to the veterinary director-general and live stock commissioner, department of Agriculture, Ottawa."
