THE NEW ZEALAND DRAUGHTHORSE STUD BOOK.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1737, 13 September 1879, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND DRAUGHTHORSE STUD BOOK.

The committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association have determined to bring out a second volume of the above publication. The number of fresh entries has reached something like 100 in all, and it is expected that the number will be considerably increased by the 13th inst. (this day), the advertised date for closing entries. Those who have draught stock of any value would do well to secure a place in the proposed volume. Volume I. was published a little more than twelve months ago, and being the first of the kind ever published in any country, it naturally contained many defects and unavoidable errors, which it is now proposed to do away with. It is intended that volume 11. shall be as accurate in every respect as it is possible to render it; and owners of stock will be consulting their own interests by fleeing that their animals are properly described, which will save much alter confusion. It is well to remember that animals not found in the Stud Book will have little chance of commanding fancy prices, however well they may be brought out. Every one who is at all familiar with the facts which frequently occur in cattle and horse breeding knows the danger of trusting to sires of doubtful or unknown pedigrees—hence the value of such works. The Earl of Dunmore, president of the Clydesdale Horae Society of Great Britain and Ireland, published in November last a Clydesdale Stud Book, being a retrospective volume, containing pedigrees of stallions foaled previous to Ist January, 1875, a copy of which has been presented by that society to the library of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. This book will be found of great value to the owners of draught stock In New Zealand, as they can now refer back to the pedigree of their stock, the progeny of imported animals. The value of the “Retrospective Stud Book ” referred to is already becoming apparent, as buyers for Australia, America, and the Continent make their purchases much more freely, having something reliable to guide them. An evil which was felt to be a growing one has now been removed, viz., the number of horses—some of them worthless—bearing the same name as horses of repute; such, for instance, as Young Champion, Prince Charlie, Prince of Wales, &o. Every horse now has his own number, which, with a distinguishing mark, will point to his origin either in the Retrospective or the New Zealand Stud Book under consideration. Volume 11. is to have as a frontispiece to the entires a lithograph portrait of Mr James Walls’ grand Clydesdale Pride of Scotland, and his Maggie Craig will preface the flection devoted to ■are*,