CHAPTER IX.
THE STOCKMAN A various times in his career Washington raised deer, turkeys, hogs, cattle, geese, negroes and various other forms of live stock, but his greatest interest seems to have been reserved for horses, sheep and mules.
From his diaries and other papers that have come down to us it is easy to see that during his early married life he paid most attention to his horses.

In 1760 he kept a stallion both for his own mares and for those of his neighbors, and we find many entries concerning the animal.
Successors were "Leonidas," "Samson," "Steady," "Traveller" and "Magnolia," the last a full-blooded Arabian and probably the finest beast he ever owned.

When away from home Washington now and then directed the manager to advertise the animal then reigning or to exhibit him in public places such as fairs.

Mares brought to the stallion were kept upon pasture, and foal was guaranteed.

Many times the General complained of the difficulty of collecting fees.
During the Revolution he bought twenty-seven worn-out army mares for breeding purposes and soon after he became President he purchased at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, thirteen fine animals for the same use.