Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-06-15
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD
Horses for Farm L Sc.

In some of the former numbers of
your valuable paper, l have noticed
communications in regard to the re-
ouisite size and weight of horses for
farm purposes.
The question seems to be, which
shall we have, large or small horses
With an experience of over twenty
five years, III the lumber camp, on the
road. aud on the farm, with horses
great and ANAL, | am forced to believe
that, in choosing horses for the farm,
we should be careful to avoid extremes.
What | mean by extremes IS this
Horses which are under ten cwt. and
over thirteen cwt. ; and above all note
the form, style and action, whether it
be good; for unless it is the horse would
be of little account, let him DO large,
small, or medium sized
I will here state few of the points
desirable in horse for all work, as on
a farm we need no other:
First, observe well the eyes. They
should be clear and intelligent, and
looking as if he were talking to you of
his might and strength. The forehead
should be broad and full, the ears
short and we'll pointed straight face,
tapering well to the nostrlls, which
should be wide and well distended.
See that he has a broad and full breast.
Pass along by his side, and note well
his shape. His crest should form
perfect arc, from poll to vithers HIS
wind-pipe should be of good size, and
a little arched The legs should be
free from blemish of all kinds. The
arms should be we'll filed out, and
with muscles we'll braced, and with
shoulders oblique The depth of
shoulders, length of back and hip,
should be the same. A good, round,
close ribbed body, covered with soft,
yielding skin, and hair which under
the touch of your hand has velvety
feeling; the loins broad, Group mod
erately sloping, good sized ham-strings;
and let the cannon be broad and fiat,
with true taper in width from point OF
hook to fetlock, the pastern not too
long: the hoof free from cracks, and
not too fiat.
With such horse you will have
speed, strength, durability, and beauty
combined, which is very essential and
desirable, and with good care will do
good service quarter OF century.
I now have span of Gray Morgan
horses. which I brought from Michi-
gan five years ago, they then being
nearly five years of age; their weight
at the time was 936 pounds each, both
going in same notch they now weigh
only 1905 pounds each.
In the season of 1868, broke up 40
acres of new prairie sod, and fitted it
all, and put part to small grain and
balance to corn, and worked it with
them, besides doing all the work neces-
sarv on the farm, they being the only
team; they also drew 81 tons Of clay n
distance of four miles, most of the
time taking one and one-half tons at
aload. And in the season OF 1869, they
broke up ~ acres of sod, drew 81 tons
OF clay distance of five miles, and
drew the reaper and mower for cutting
14O acres of grain and hay. In the sea
son of 1870, they broke up 20 acres OF
prairie sod, and drew thirty tons OF
clay four miles and cut $50 acres OF
grain. The blowing has been done at
depth of four inches and furrow OF
one foot in width. Their work is al.
ways performed with the greatest OF
ease and facility, and they have kept
in good flesh and spirits and been ad.
mired by hundreds. Other cases
could relate of work done by horses Of
about the same weight, but this will
suffice. Ny object is to show that fol
farm use it is not necessary to have 6
very heavy team, as there is but little O
the work that requires an extraordi
nary power And in that case 1t II
very easy to add the third horse.
G.. Ii. W.
SHELBISA, Mo- Western RHot