Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-07-10
The Farm, Garden, Kitchen & Shop.


ARAB HORSES AND SrABLEs.-The
following description of Arab horses
and stables is extracted from one of
the admirable Letters from Algiers,"
written over the signature of aPhan-
tom," in the London Field:
"The town of Blidah was totally
destroyed by an earthquake in the
year 1925, and $4,000 persons are
supposed to have been buried in it's
ruins. The survivors retired to the
distance of about mile from the old
town, with the intention of raising a
new city; however, their love for
their old haunts induced them soon
to abandon the idea, and new town
rose amidst the ruins of the old one.
Blidah was surnamed the 'voluptuous'
by the inhabitants of Algiers its sit
uation at the foot of the Atlas Noun
tains, and its beautiful environs with
their stately orange groves, combine
to render it most attractive city.
1t Is here that the Government have
placed their establishment for improv-
ing the breed of Arab horses. A
French officer was so kind as to take
us over the stud.
THE civility and genuine good
heartiness of all tboseFrench gentle.
men we had the happiness to become
acquainted with, added greatly to the
enjoyment of our visit to Algeria, and
we shall always entertain a lively
recollection Of the hospitality and
consideration shown us by our French
friends.
"The stud is composed of about for
ty horses. There are horses from
Syria, Tunis, Morocco, and Algeria.
Some of them have been bought for
large sums. Ell MAJ, a white Syrian
horse, Of great strength, and standing
about fifteen hands, has cost one thou
sand guineas, and was present from
the Emperor. was also much struck
with the symmetry of little chest
nut horse, up to immense weight, call
ed Maihadin, which was bred near
Blidah. During the Spring months
these horses make the tour of IN,
Provinces, so that any of the 4 .rab
may improve the breed of the r AM
mails gratis, receiving at y ,e sam
time, q certificate Of the pa rentage O
the colt. The stables O. e all one
sheds, having straw biz ods in from
which may be let dow n as a prote,
ton against either lind, rain. or SUI
TIE food Of the norses consists o
barley-straw, With a little barle.
They are well cared for, and treate
with scrupul GUS kindness. Their d.
cility is asst onishing. 1t is a strikin
sight, to See so many entire horse
standing In long open sheds, withor
partitions, close together, and merel
fastened with the usual cord, whic
hobbies them all by the fore-leg.
GAS have before observed, tn
wind of these horses is quite astonisl
ing. Sometimes, in expedition
against the Arabs, the French solo
iers have been in the saddle from fiv
AN. till ten P. M, and performed
distance of eighty-five miles withou
giving a mouthful of food to thei
horses. The horses when on tn
march never sleep under cover; the
all anything. Three things are II
dispensable to an Arab horse-a goo
eye, good foot, and good appetite
The price given for regimental horse
varies from three hundred and fifty
four hundred francs. The Arabs
lustrate their estimate of the ditferer
colors of horses by the following tale
A chief of tribe was once pu
sued by his enemies. He said to h
son: MY son, drop to the rear, an
tell me the color of the horses of OIL
foe and may Allah burn his gram
fatherr White was the answe
Then we will go SOUTH said Il
chief; for in the vast plains of Il
desert the wind of white horse W
not stand in a protracted chas
Again the chief said, My son, VIII
colored horses pursue us? 'Blac
O, my father Then we will
amongst the stones and on rocl
ground, for the feet of black hors
are not strong A third time &
young Arab was sent to the rear, al
reported chestnut horses. The
said the old chief, I'VE are lost; W
but Allah can deliver us from t
chestnut horses :? Dun or cream-c'
ored horses the Arabs consider wort
less, and fit only for Jews to riC
They say also that fea-bitten hor
is never a bad one"
OPEN AND TIGHT BARNs.-A We
mont farmer gives his explanation
this matter. He says he built col
mon barn in 1910, finishing it Wi
unseasoned boards, put on singly, al
consequently the barn had many We
tilators, as the cracks were Meth
small nor few. He soon learned tn
the hay must be we'll cured befo
putting it into the barn, or 1t won
heat, mould and sometimes spoil
the centre of the NOW, while near Il
walls of the barn the hay was brig
and good. He also learned that
having the barn doors open duril
the hay season, as many farmers d
the hay next to the floor, especial
near the door, looked like hay whi'
had taken the storm and been bad
washed. Another fact he learnt
from old farmers, that hay intend'
for the stack must be thoroughly Gu
ed, even more so than for the barn.
lo,,s1f N nfhar ha1