The Portland daily press., 1875-03-10
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Profits of Horse breeding.

Profits of Horse breeding.
As the season is now at hand when the
amateur breeder as well as the practical far
iner is considering the question of sires Tor
his next crop OF foals, few suggestions of a
practical nature will not be out of place.
There can be no question as to the fact that
under circumstances ordinarily favorable the
breeding and raising of horses is profitable
business. Good horses are always in demand
at prices that abundantly pay for the raising.
No matter whether the breeders efforts be
in the direction of producing horses adapted
for the road, the turf, carriage, or draft, it
pays to breed only the best of its kind. If the
farm be properly arranged tor the business,
the cost OF raising colt until he is four years
old is but little If any greater than that OF
raising steer to the same age, and the cost
of raising good horse is no greater than that
of raising poor one. The main difference
however, is found in the fact that the scrub
will not sell, while the really good horse of
each of the leading types is always in demand
at a remunerative price. The difference in
value between good and poor horses is very
much greater than that which exists in any
other kind of live stock. Hogs and cattle are
raised mainly for the value of the carcass,
and are bought and sold by weight, with only
a slight variation as 10 price in regard to
quality; but not so with the horse His form,
style, and color, the sparkle of the eye, the
cut of the head, the quality of the bone, the
carriage of the tail, the shape of each individ-
ual part that goes to make up the whole-his
gait as well as his size and mental character
istics-are all carefully considered and taken
into the account in estimating the value of
the animal. 1t should be borne in mind that
nearly all of the qualities which determine
the value of the horse are inherited ones-are
bred in the bone-and if they be not possessed
by the foal when first dropped from the dam
no amount of subsequent care, attention, or
outlay can remedy the defect. To make the
business of raising horses a profitable one
saleable horses must be produced, and to do
this with certainty the breeder must procure
good broodmares, and then breed to good
stations only. The quality and blood of the
horse and not the price at which he is held
for service, are the important matters for
consideration. Having constantly in mind
the points which give value, and seek dill
gently for sire that from his own form and
blood is likely to transmit these points. What
Is bred in the bone will be transmitted, and no
mongrel can be relied upon TO transmit any
thing but his own defects. Experience was
long since demonstrated to be the best of
schools, and if you find cross that ''nicks"
well, or sire that has demonstrated his ex-
celence, prefer that cross of that sire 10 all
others. 1t is not to be taken for granted
that you have found the best stallion when
you have found the one that commands the
highest fee for service; the best rule il to pay
no attention to the price until you have ex-
amined the horse and his pedigree carefully,
and then, when you have found him all right
in form and action, purely bred, descended
from an ancestry uniformly possessing the
same good qualities, or if you find that the
horse himself has demonstrated his excellence
as a sire of such horses as you wish to breed
you may venture to consider the price of SER
vice. Having thus carefully chosen the sire
and dam, success is reasonably certain, and
the business is profitable one. The ordin-
ary farmer can scarcely invest in any business
that will give such sure and large returns as
the purchase OF one or Two real good brood
mares-prov.ded always that he breed them
with Judgment. While raising their foals
each year the mares will, with proper care, do
nearly as much ordinary farm-work as geld
ings and from their produce he may in a few
years gain himself a competence.-Spirit Of
the Times.
The Rest Field Beans
The American Rural Home saws that in
Western New York the medium and marrow
are most planted, and the white kidney and
early pea to limited extent. The medium
is considered the most reliable, as, from its
ripeDing, it is less affected by the vicsstude.
of tho season. 1t sells for less, however. than
the other varieties named. The marrow is quite
a popular variety, and on strong soil is very
productive. 1t is quoted thirty-five cents a
bushel higher than medium in the Rochester
market now, and the same as kidney. The
white kidney has larger stalks, requires lon
ger season to be matured in, and is more liza
bic to pc spoiled in ripening. When every
thing, however, is favorable, it will produce
large crops. 1t will, of course make diff
ference in what way the beans are planted as
to the quantity OF seed required, but ftrmers
generally use about bushel of the marrows
and the mediums to the acre, rather more of
thekidpeys, and about half as much of tho