The Minoan and Mycenaean element in Hellenic life / [Sir Arthur Evans].

  • Evans, Arthur, Sir, 1851-1941.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Minoan and Mycenaean element in Hellenic life / [Sir Arthur Evans]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    GROUP 5-AGRlCULTURE * THE CULTIVATION OF THE EARTH-CHAPTER 13 Famous Breeds. Rations for Horses at Rest and at Work. The Farm Horse. Breeding and Breaking-in. The Age and the Teeth. THE MANAGEMENT OF HORSES Our Breeds of Horses—The Shire. This magnificent breed was formerly known as the Old English cart horse, and was practically made in the counties of Lincoln, Cambridge, Derby, and Notts, but it gradually extended to adjoining counties, and subsequently to every part of England. Since the establish- ment of the Shire Horse Society the Shire has become one of the most jmpular horses with farmers and landowners. It is chiefly black or dark brown, with white marks on the face and feet; bays are occasionally seen, but other colours are rare. It often reaches 17 hands in height, and in a good specimen the girth is from 7 ft. 9 in. to 8 ft. 6 in. While highly sym- metrical in form, it may be described as much in little.” In build the Shire is square and massive, possessing a big chest, a short back, jjowerful shoulders and Join, long quarters, deep, weU-sprung ribs, muscular thighs, legs short beloAV the knee, heavily clothed with fine silky hair or feather, and short pasterns. The head is long and fine, but broad between the eyes ; the neck arched, and the feet large and wide ; the body lines are highly symmetrical. The weight of good specimens exceeds 2000 lb. The Shire is a fast and active walker, and is largely bred by farmers, many of whom keep pedigree mares for the purpose, which they employ in their teams on the land. The produce is chiefly sold for heavy draught purposes to brewers, carriers, and the like. The Shire is perhaps the most powerful horse in the world. It is docile and intelligent, and is believed to be descended from the old English war horse, an animal of much smaller size. Great' prices are often obtained for prize-taking stock, and, chiefly owing to exhibitions, the breeding of this animal has become an important industry. Pedigree stallions owned by wealthy landowners and farmers or hired by societies travel through most parts of England. The Clydesdale. The Clydesdale is the draught horse of Scotland, chiefly used for the heavy work on the farm and the drawing of heavy loads in the great centres of population. In colour it is usually dark brown or black with white markings ; not quite so large as the Shire, it reaches a height of 1(3 ta 16i hands. While symmetrical in form, it is Tuassive and ])owerful, possessing a gentle disposition and great activity for its size. The head is well formed, the neck arched and strong, the shoulders oblique, the back short and hollow, the chest wide and deep, the ribs round and well sprung, the quarters strong, the thighs powerful, the legs muscular and straight, and the bone, like the knee, flat, the pasterns sloping, and the feet broad and strong. The Clydesdale is a fast and free walker, and is on one side descended from stock im- ported from France. The Suffolk. This variety, which is chiefly confined to East Anglia, is, on account of ith heaA^ body and short limbs, known as the Suffolk Punch. Its colour is almost invariably chestnut, although varying in shade. It is; active, courageous, and strong, walking and trotting easily; averaging about 16 hands in height, it sometimes reaches 16-2, and Aveighs from 1850 up to 2200 lb. The Suffolk possesses a neat head, a short neck, powerful shoulders, a well-rounded body or barrel, which is massiA'e as compared Avith the legs AA'hich support it. The forearms are short and stout, the thigh muscular, but the legs are light in comparison Avith those of the Shire and Clydesdale, and carrj no long hair. The pasterns are short and strong, and the feet smaller than those of other heavy breeds. The Thoroughbred. The thoroughbred, or race horse, is the produce of our ancient natiA^e breed crossed Avith the Arab and other horses of Eastern origin. It is a somcAA'hat nervous creature, exhibiting great speed, spirit, courage, and en- durance. In build it is graceful, AA'ith fine .skin, silken hair, and plenty of sinew. Under the management of a Royal Commission money is annually awarded to selected sires, Avhich are distributed throughout the country for the use of farmers and others at Ioav fees. The object is the production of hunters, carriage, and other saleable horses, Avhich the thoroughbred is well adapted to produce when crossed on selected mares. The head, although AA’ide in the nostrils and the forehead, is fine, especially at the muzzle. The neck is long and slender, the shoulders long and flat, the loins short, the quarters muscular, the legs long and flat, bxit short from the knee to the pastern, Avhich is elastic, the forearm and thigh long, the chest high, and the constitution exceptional. In colour the thoroughbred is u.sually bay, broAvn, or chestnut, other colours being comparatively rare. In height it reaches up to 17 hands; according to one of our best authorities. Sir Walter Gilbey, the height of the racehorse Avas 14 hands in 1700, 14-.3 in 1800, and 15-25 in 1900. The Cleveland Bay. This is an improving breed, AA'hich is bred in the Cleveland and adjacent parts of Yorkshire and Durham. It is employed on the farm for light draught Avork, for the saddle, and CA^en for caiTiage Avork, the mares being specially adajffed for the pro duction of carriage-horses Avhen crossed AAuth the thoroughbred. In height it reaches from 16 to 16-2 hands, and its colour is the richest bay ol any of our native breeds. The mane and tail are black, and the legs dark. The head is not AA^ell EMBRACING FARMING, LIVE-STOCK, DAIRYING, BEEKEEPING. FORESTRY, GARDENING