Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-11-25
Agricultural.

HEAVY HoRsRs.-Are not many horse
breeders making a mistake in breeding
too much for speed, and paying too
little attention to weight and utility for
draught purposes The superinten-
dent of one of our largest express COM
panies informs me that each year they
| find greater difficulty in procuring
suitable horses for their large wagons.
The average horses are fast enough and
have enough activity, but have not the
needful weight for thepurposes of heavy
draught and the few heavy horses in
market seem to lack the proper amount
of activity, or, in the words Of the su-
perintendent, ''they are too sleepy"
I notice that at recent sale In London
of A cart horses, the average price was
$40, varying from S240 to $500, while
the average weight was but little less
than 1000 pounds, with height of
seventeen hands. These were, of
course, dray horses, and we're too heavy
for the quick moving express wagons.
Whether a cross on some of our
roomy, fast travelling mares should be
made with a Clydesdale, Norman or
Percheron stallion, l leave for breeders
to decide, but am satisfied that the
breeding of such horses will pay we'll,
for the present supply is far below the
present or future demand. There
seems to be prejudice among farmers
against heavy horses, because they are
slow. 1t does not follow that weight
must decrease speed below certain
point, though must admit that fast
performance on the race course is in
compatible with 1900 pound horses.
What we need is not SO well described
by the word "speed" a. by the term
"active." We do not, for farm or ex-
press purposes, need morse to be a
fast traveller so much as that he should
be active and quick in his motions, and
quick to anticipate the requirements o.
his driver. A good horse, weighing not
less than l. 500 pounds, will now COM
mand good price in all our city mar
kets, and 1 think he is to be the coming
horse among those breeders who look
| for profit. Country Gentleman.
CLAY As MANURE.-Clay constitutes
large part of our tillable land, and 1t
contains matter of the highest impor-
tance. But this matter is looked up,
so that clay as we find it, particularly
in its original or raw state, is of little
value to the farmer, generally thing
not desired. Yet, as We said, it con-
tains very valuable properties, and
many of them, principally of aIkalies,
such as potash, lime magnesia, etc.
These let loose and brought to a state
lit for the use of plants, will afford a
large fund of most useful mineral ma
nure.
But how is that to be obtained Ex-
posed to the elements, sun, rain, frost,
etc, a slow change will take place, and
the benefit will be marked at once, but
not strongly; the chemical effect is slow
but continuous if left to the influence
of the weather hence clay soil is said
to be lasting soil, as it is constantly
giving up its manurial properties, for
the benefit of the plant. But there are
other properties among which are its
soil, and its absorptive principle, which
is very great when in highly pulveru-
lent condition, attracting moisture and
the various gases and holding them,
thus adding to its fertility.
The general object, therefore, in the
treatment of clay, must be to acrate
and expose to the elements, particu-
larly the frost, and prevent packing
while working it, that is, not working it
when wet.
To get an immediate effect, without
waiting for the action of elements re-
sort is sometimes had to burning.
This iberates the valuable manurial
elements without expelling or evapora-
ting them. Sufficient experiment has
been made to decide that in some cases
it is profitable to treat clay in this way.
1t supplies the necessary mineral or in
organic matter largely, Much is to be
done yet with our clay soil to render it
highly effective and useful.