Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-04-10
THE S .; FARM.
FARMERS OF CnrTrENDEN County
For the Free Press.
NJ. LII.

WOuius at a IulUrc tIine, ann 10 pblHt uut suIne
Of the leading causes of the present low char.
acter of our horses, and also to suggest, Incl.
den,aly, some Of the more important means TO
be employed in order to correct existing evils in
this matter, and to produce style of horses OF
the right stamp - horses that shall combine
beauty piih all go and all gork. This shall now
attempt TO do.
l. We farmers, it must be confessed, as a
body, have not been disposed 10 hold out sutii-
cicut encouragement TO secure tho introduction
and ensure the support OF superior sres. But
how does this appear! In this way, look! In the
present paucity of first rate entire horses, one
OF the best quality will command large price
- not less than $1,000. The interest of this
sum is $50, annually. Such horse cannot be
kept as he should be for less than $500 year.
Then, such horse is. certainly, as liable to die
or be ruined as factories TO he burned up
then, the following yearly outgoes for a proper
sire, properly kept.
Interest on first CO st. per annum, S CO.
Keeping, per annBm. 200,
Nlsk, Ut fifteen per cent. $50,
Making, in al e"err voar, the sum of $40
NO account is "adc here Of the fact that the
horse will, at longest, die in a short time.
From these estimates it is very plain that the
services Of a super-cxcellcnt sire. should com.
mand as much as ten dollars for {" the season."
This sum is cheerfuIIy paid where good sjres are
had, and good horses are bred But wha, is the
prevailing feeling aud practice among US -
Why majority OF Us, a large majority, regard
30 90 as huge price, and not to be incurred
or tolerated, except in special cases. Three
dollars is the common price for vla, we esteem
our best horses while miserable scrubs which
1t would seem, are wholly useless for any valu
able purpose, are accustomed to go from farm ia
farm, like graceess beggars, easing for employ
ment " at dollar. Now these are the crea.
tures, BY msnouier called horses, from which a
large share Of the nags now in use, among us,
are bred! Hence their lcgeneracy,as a whole
We profess 10 know somoil,ing, and to be glid
cd by the light % our know ledge but one o
two things must he true Of us we know neN,
to nothing as to oar interests in this matter -
or, we despise know ledge, in this thing, as
practical guide. We seem 10 act as though the
laws OF business and OF breeding would, some
how, be suspended for the sake Of aver,lnr from
US the legitimate, but mournful results of
shortsg GIFTED parsmony. In engaging the ser
vices OF stock horse, We generally act upon
the ground OF employing The one that Will COS,
the LEAST, TO begin with exercising 10 prudent
forecast respecting the results 10 be real,zed--
Nov, fellow farmers. am becoming very mpa-
tient of this practice, aud of the spirit VIII eli
Pronp,si'. Bi, vii! not declare aga rsl i
as" unendurahly shameful" because tins 'gAt
Involve questions respecting our moral stand.
ing; but do say, that, il Ne wiIl ponder he
subject as il deserves, We shall he painfully
convinced, hat it is al wretched economy, being
throu 2houi, "penuy wise aad pound foolish >
policy. What, then, should be done! Tie
answer is easy. We must cast aside our apa-
thy on this subject, open our eyes 10 our true
interests, engage in good earnest in breeding
good horses, as far we breed any, and last
but not least, be willing TO pay fairly for the
services Of sire OF superior excellence. Wher
ever we Will come into this atiltudc,l will guar
anty that somebody will furnish us with the use
Of sire No. l, according 10 the hlghes, and long
est approved standards. Thus, an impor,an
and Indispensable step viii be taken, in layin.
the foundation Of breed of horses among us
which shall be efficient at whatever service ",
shall please to put them, and shall yield us
liberia. price at sale. Now will we take lhi
FIR AL iath
argic state and present habits on this subjec
and continue TO employ mere scrubs" as sire
and be content with scrub colts, which can an
swer for US but little purpose at work, and ca
bring to us but stinted sum at sale! But lie
Us look at auotIer aspect of this matter.
q Another reason why the general charac,c
OF our horses has sunk low,and Why this &c
pressed state continues so long, is he almos
universal absence, among us, of model horses
Venture to say. that maj ,rity Of us never sa,
horse Of bona .fds finish and perfection. w
de not know how he would look nor do y
Know much respecting the points, which CIV
him his suneriori,y. Most OF us are in The dar
anu 10 no. know arsgHt hat to aim at IN breed
ing few model horses would serve To throv
daylight in upon US, and star, US up in the rinl,
direction.
] might, with proprieiy, leave this point JUS
here. But, inasmuch as the tendency of mod
ell specimens is so advantageous to the march q
improvement in all the mulrliarious pursuits an
business connected with our mode of life, vii
venture a few remarks more, even at the haz
ard of prolixiiy.
A knowledge Of farming is experimental
whether il pertains to breeding, feeding, diaries
the management Of soils, seeds, or anyhin
else. Hence, we can advance in the knowledg
Of this great art, only by outward experienc
and observation, either on our own part, or o
the part of others. We cannot refer pahi
to model and directory, as we can, and mus
on the subject Of morality. We must lear
from notices from mihOut. We need, therefore
something, which we can see. aud examine,an
Get from Thus our scattered and nascent no
, ions are reduced to ORDER and made TO mature
and our half conscious Impressions are mad
clear and sharp, and we reach, at once, what