Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-14

money. Some people will say that it takes
the right kind Of a man to sell horse for
great price, but tell you, gentlemen, if you
only have the speed, you are all right. If
you only have the right cards, you can play
your hand we'll, and sometimes | think the
farmer stands the best chance, for the buyer
depends great deal on what the colt is 90
ing to do when he changes hands, and he
will ottentmes pay for speed that he don't
get.
Now when we sit down and see what our
neighbors have done, it seems as though we
should all be tempted to make the expert
ment. 1t is my firm belief that the only
true and successful way of having a trotter
is to breed from trotting blood. The size
and form of fast horses are so widely differ.
ent that in my mind no particular attention
need be paid as regards the shape, for we
have horses that are very fast with short
backs, and long backs high on the wthers,
and low crooked legs, and straight legs
large heads aud small heads While Dex
ter shows many prominent points of IL well
made-up trotter, Lady Thorne is very def
cient, and to casual observer her build
would hardly indicate trotter, or warrant a
belief that she had stamina enough to 90
through a race. She has large, bony
head, eve neck, long back, short hip, long
legs, and an awkward appearance ; but blood
wW tell, aud in her case 1t has carried her
through many successful races Old Brown
Dick was a roach.back, or, as some might
say, half circle from the end OF his tail to
the end of his nose, while the buckskin Nc.
Ciellan was regular hollow or sway back
both good trotters and stayers, and could
trot to the end of the road
So you see, gentlemen, not much depend.
ence can be placed upon shape, but we must
60 for blood, aud breed from the family that
has the trottng instinct and has the power
to impart it to others. If diamonds that
were worth thousands of dollars each had
been found scattered through these noun
tains, think you, gentlemen, we should be
idle, or should we be all armed with shovel
and pick, marching to the diamond fields ?
Then how much safer and surer would be
the search for trotter for if we fail, there
will be no loss, as the colt would be worth
the cost Of raising for other purposes but
if We succeed and only find one first class
trotting colt it will make US independent.
Then let me impress upon you, farmers
don't wait, don't delay,-but 90 to work
improve the breed Of horses, and study well
which class will find the quickest sale aud
bring the most money, and breed them for
the market
When We look at the prices paid for speed
it seems as though we could not hesitate.
We all know that good, square, young
gelding horse, all sound and kind, with
common gait, can be bought for 5000. Now,
If this same horse can trot in three and one
half minutes a full mile, he is worth twice
that sum, or S400, if he can trot in three
minutes he is worth 5000, and il he can trot
in ? 30 he is worth $1,000, if he can trot in
24O he is worth $4,000, and if he is sure to
60 in 80 he is cheap at $4,000, aud will
bring thai. in ready cash. Now, is this
worth trying for, or shall we sit back aud
say there is more morality in raising sheep,
greasing their backs, and selling a grade for
a full blood merino? Or shall we spend our
time in trying to make people believe that
small Jersey heifer, OH half feed will affect
the butter market?
Gentlemen, | have taken up considerable
time and am very thankful for your kind |
aud close attention; allow me to close by |
saying that if speed is what the market de.
mands, then let us raise it. Let the world
know that good, first class trotting horses
can be found in Vermont, as well as in Or.
ango County, n. Y.