Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-10

stations as "rOadstors !" OF these all were
awarded 10 those Of Morgan descent four
premiums were offered to stations for Qener.
al use, four years old and upward. An of
theae were awarded to Morgans. To stall.
lions for general use three years old and UNI
der four years, two premiums were offered
one Of these was awarded to Morgan. To
stations for general use, one year old and un-
der two, three premiums were offered two
awarded to Morgans. To breeding mares
and fllies four premiums were offered two
awarded 60 Morgans. To FLIES three years
old, two premiums offered one awarded to
a Morgan Fillcs one year old, only one
premium awarded, and that to Morgan.
To trotting stations four premiums were of
tered, and three Of them awarded to Nor
gans.
Fellow citizens, there are two other points
that | wish to briefly notice, when / will
draw this address to a close.
MOrgRns' weight Increased.
1t was said that tho Morgans were too
small for general purposes, which induced
certain worthy gentlemen to attempt raising
larger class. In reply to this, would
say, gradual increase in size and weight has
been going on from the days Of Justin Nor
gan. This wonderful horse, that was worth
his weight in gold many times over, only
weighed in his palmiest days $50 pounds,
and his three celebrated sons, Sherman,
Woodbury., and Bullrush, averaged 900
pounds.
Now take some of his most noted grand
sons, choosing them equally from each Of the
different families, and we shall find the size
and weight increasing. Black Hawk weighed,
1000 pounds Royal Morgan, or the Crane
horse, 1920 pounds and this horse l had
the honor to own, he dying on my farm at
the advanced age Of nearly forty years.
Clifford, 1000 pounds Barker horse, 1910
pounds Morgan Trotter, 1850 pounds !;
Morgan Emperor, 1920 pounds The aver.
age weight of these horses was ,02S pounds.
At the United States Agricultural Fairs pre-.
viously mentioned, the society gave the
weights Of twenty-five of the Morgans there
exhibited. Omitting three of them, which
were only four years old, aud therefore not
fully grown, the average weight of the
remaining twenty-five was ,04S.
This shows gradual increase in weight,
and had special pains been taken to preserve
our largest and best stations and mares for
breeding purposes, the weight might have
been still increased without resorting to other
breeds to raise larger animals.
MorgNns' Speed Increased.
One other erroneous statement was made,
that the Morgaus has degeuerated in speed
and powers of endurance. This statement
| think is VIGOROUSLY untrue | do not re-
member of any authentic record of any trot-
ting By any Of the immediate defendants of
the Justin Morgan in $50 but it has been
done over and over again by very many of
his progeny Of the present generation, and
We have never met a horseman thoroughly
acquainted with these horses who believed
any Of the immediate descendants Of the JUS
tin Morgan would have had shadow of a
chance against Lady Sutton, Ethan Allen.
Draco, Young Morrill,, Sherman Black Hawk,
Beppo, Vermont Boy, Pzarro, Black Hawk
Maid, and host Of others we might name.
The Farmers Practical Farriery, published
at Auburn, New York, 1853, said
"The Morgans Of the present day possess
the spirit, compactness, strength Of consti-
tuition, power of endurance, and general
structure Of the body, of their illustrious an.
cestors in an eminent degree. There have
been aud are, doubtless, more fast horses Of
the Morgan breed than of any other one va.
riety in the United States"
Conclusion.
have rehearsel these historical facts In
order to stir up your minds by way Of re-
membrance, hoping that YOU may all return
to your first lore" if so be you had become
indifferent to the continuation of this excel
lent breed Of horses. | cannot believe that
our intelligent farmers are willing to let
them become extinct, when pride, wealth and
pleasure lend an influence for their perpetu-
alton, especially State pride, for all Vermont
ers feel proud of their native State and the
race Of horses that has made us renowned
from Maine to California from Canada to
Mexico and which has attracted and will
continue to attract all lovers of these valu-
able animals. Perhaps you deem me too
enthusiastic in favor Of the Morgans if so,
1 can say am not alone in my enthusiasm
for thousands have got Morgan ION the
BRAIN as we'll as myself
Do | hear some one inquire, "How shall
We regain our standing with this stock, as
the race has degenerated so that but few
good specimens are now Iiving?" To this |
will answer, individual enterprise fear will
not do it, but a company, with a generous
outlay of means, similar to the "Vermont
Horse Stock Company" might be successful,
if men could be found who would enter with
the same spirit into the undertaking. |
should like TO see the experiment tried, not
doubling its utility; for should we not have
Murgans within our State with which to
commence this enterprise, ten thousand dol
lars, the price paid fer Waikiki Chief, might
find one or more in some of the states, flor
enterprising men have made us bankrupt in
our finest specimcns,) descended direct from
one Of Vermonts lavorites. To-day good
mares can be found direct from Black Hawk
and Green Mountain Morgan but let this
matter pass along unheeded quarter of a
century without an effort to regain our for
mer prestige, and the race will be lost, and
lost forever Let me appeal to you, in con-
cusion, to think of this matter, and think
earnestly, and decide now and for all time
to come, whether by Indifference you will
allow the Morgan race of horses to become
extinct-be forever wiped out, for the want
Of little foresight and enterprise,
Reported for tho VERMONT FARMER.
EAST ST. JOHNSBURY FARMERS