Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-10
Daily Ssrnnfbtf gournal.
THE FARMERS HORSE.
SANFORD HOWARD, SECRETARY MICHIGAl
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

SANFORD HOW ANN cCNA'
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Much advice has been lately giver
through the agricultural papers IN re-
gard to breeding horses. Articles OIL
this subject are generally written .!
nersons interested in some particular
breed or stock of horses. They tax
greatldeal about blood, " thorough
Bred etc, frequently without giving
anv very definite idea as 10 wiia' 'ne!
mean by those terms. Inc prihc'p.es
mb;cb really form the foundation of IN
.all;gent breeding in reference to the
different purposes for which horses are
wanted are seldom spoken of prob
ably for the reason that they are rare
~ understood. Flippant writers use
hackneyed terms by which they catch
the ear of people who never investi-
cate thoroughly. or observe closely,
and to a great extent accomplish their
object, which is to get money. Some
of them arc probably honest enough to
believe that their efforts tend to the
;r,nrcrement of horses for practical
purposes,
Not long since a we'll known last
arr horse breeder made the remark that
there is as much fashion in regard to
harses as there is in the cut of a coat.
He said his object was to conform to
the fashion. OF course it was nothing
to him whether the fashion was in IA
wor Of a horse that was really valuable
in useful purposes or not; the .fa'acsI
for a particular strain of blood is rell-
ed on to bring purchasers, So it was
8 few years ago in regard TO certain
style of Merano sheep: but where IS
the profit Of breeding them now that
they have gone out Of fashion, II
actual uti!ify were made the basis al
breeding instead of attempting to suit
q capr1cious fancy the public might be
benefited, instead Of being injured, as
II often Is
We have alluded, above, 10 the great
Importance which some persons attach
to what is called the Thoroughbred
horse 1t Is proper 10 state that this
term is only applicable 10 the race
horse twould require too much time
and space 10 show, ia this connection,
lust how the term originated. and also
the origin of the variety Of horses to
which it is applied. Some persons re-
gard these horses as more valuable fol
any purpose than any other breed Oh
stock. 1t is even sand by some Of then
advocates, whose zeal is not according
70 knowledge, that the meanest thor
nugh-bred horse will get better stool
for the carriage Or road than any horse
not thoroughbred" Assertions of TIM
kind, although entirely unsupported b,
reason and evidence, have more or les
influence with certain class of minds
If tine authors of these assertions wer
asked how they know that they ar
true, they would probably find them
selves met by what they had not antic
ipated - demand for proof We hav'
been iatteriv SO much accustomed Ii
this loose mode of speaking ON a al.:''
subject, that ii was quite refreshing tx
find, III late number of the PrGiTls
Farmer, some common sense remarks
by DR.. N. Eel. Paaren, well-knowr
veterinarian Of Chicago. He says:
The system of crossing which has
been adopted since the introduction Of
thoroughbred stations, appears TO be
be cause of the degeneration of our
general stock. Let his shape and quail
ties be good, bad or Indifferent. the
one which possesses blood is sure to be
the animal which will be selected as a
sire. His light action, snowy appear
anoe. and high sounding pedigree, will
be sufficient recommendation to those
who are ignorant Of the various points
and qualities which are connected with
the strength, substance, durability and
disposition Of the animal. Extremes
in crossing are rarely successful; and
it is really astonishing to see the farm
ers putting their cart-mares to thor
ough-bred horses, expecting to have
foals of class fit for fast work, where
as nine times out of ten they are fl
neither for slow nor fast USE"
1t would be well for the public, i
not for men who attempt to breed
horses to suit the fashion of the day
if these remarks were needed.
THE PROFIT AND Loss.-If farmer
kept as nice and exact accounts with
the CATTLE tho f,alds the orchards anT