The Hillsborough Recorder

(By Request.)

The following extract of a letter published in the American Farmer, is from Wm. B. Hodge, who is noted for having raised more fine horses than any other farmer in Virginia. Virginian was the sire of North-Carolinian.

"Virginian is a fine bred horse, most of his crosses were of my old stock. Sally Fairter, a remote cross in his pedigree, was extremely fleet, 16 feet high, sired by Sterling: she was small and delicate, owing to her bad raising. She bore several foals before I got her; she brought me four or five foals, all valuable; after which I sold her, and she was carried to the north.

"The only one of her produce which I retained, was Diana by Claudius: she was a bright bay, 4 ft 10 inches high, and remarkably stout made and a very fine mare. She died at 22 years old, having produced me a dozen foals or more. She had a neck like a stallion, and all her produce were fine. The only one I retained of them was her first viz: Wunero by Obscurity, 5 feet 2 inches high, a dark bay, stout made and a fine mare. She brought me only four or five foals; died young with first filly. I only retained from her Latona by Sir William, a blood bay, 5 feet two inches high: she died at 14 years old. She was one of the finest mares I ever saw, and all her produce fine: she was the dam of Magnolia, Sir William, and several others. In those days but few horses were trained to run. I raised only for size and beauty. But almost all that were trained of the above stock run well; the fact is they turned out more racers than any other stock of my knowledge in Virginia. Aldeon and Monroe, raised and run by Burwell Wilkes, were from said stock: and every good racer raised by James J. Harrison were also from said stock, I might particularly mention, Glencoe, who either lineally or collaterally took in his pedigree on the dam's side, of every cross of the above stock."

W. B. BROWNLEE.