Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-03
Plantation and Farm Stock.

MEssRs. EDIroRs.-While every depart
ment olagriculture and interest to the country
at large is discussed in your excellent journal
the stock-yard is entirely neglected, with
the exception of an occasional short article ,
and believing this to be an important item in
the prosperity of the country, | have con-
cluded to send you few thoughts on the
rearing and treatment of horses.
Oh all the animals known to the Natural
Historian, either in their undisturbed posses.
sion of their native forests or domesticated
state, there is none that excels the horse in
construction for beauty or service. His elc-
gantly proportioned body, strong and snewy
limbs, nicely rounded back, beautifully shap-
ed neck, flowing name and fiery eyes, are
so well adjusted and nicely proportioned, as
to make him not only the most beautiful, bul
also the most serviceable Of the animal
kingdom. But when considered solely as
the servant of man, none is better adapted
to that department than the well bred, no.
BILE moving horse, and yet our familiarity
with him destroys our admiration for his
beauty, and blunts our perception of his
valuable services.
There is no animal so well calculated to
render the requisite services as the horse, and
none so much neglected, and often cruelty
treated, considering his intrinsic value.
If more attention was bestowed on the
raising and preservation of the horse, he
would not only be much more serviceable,
but attain much greater longevity.
The most common custom OF horse raising
in this Southern country is, to secure foal
without any reference to the stock, and then
work the dam numerically during CESSATION,
which is abated only few days after foal.
ing, and resume the driving process through
the entire season of sucking.
The young animal is then put into dry
lot or suffered to run on old waste fields and
fed on dry corn and fodder, with the excep-
ton of a few months of fall pasturing, which
is nearly as stimulating as the former.
This is probably the most rapid way of
raising horses and pushing them into market
but being so highly stimulated, many 60
blind when put to work others become dis.
eased with big head, big,jaw, big. shoulder,
swinney, or some other disease as formda.
Bile and finally as fatal to the services of the
horse.
Hill side ditching, the best method of
drainage, the most proper and suitable pro-
cess Of tilliug the crops are subjects of
frequent discussion in the different agricultu-
raj journals, but Of the stock-yard, as
before remarked, we have only an occasional
article
Upon what does the farmer mostly depend
for success9 Is it not his team? and when
this fail farming is very slow and pro6less
business-but with good team of horses or
mules, the former being preferable, and
moderate land, though his force is otherwise
weak, he may confidently look for fair re.
ward for his labor.
One of the greatest complaints among
planters is the scarcity and inefficiency Of
teams, and the exorbitant prices which they
have to pay for. horses and mules (which
will ever continue and increase, while the
present system of buying and driving to death
and buying again is continued. C.