The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-20

TfOT~t NIIUWS.
From Farm aud Garden IN Chicago Tribune.


= From FsrId aud Garden IN Chicago Tribune.
All classes, however flock eagerly TO the
ampilheaIre during the exhibitions in the cat
, Tie and horse rings, and during the trials of
srceG, every available point from which the
| exhibition rings can be seen is crowded with
. ladies and gentlemen, eagerly intent upon
cri,icising the dull bovines or flying courscrs.
Agricultural horse trots, say what we may,
= are always drawing cards, and it properly
conducted, are as innocent of harm us nam.
, moth pumpkins, tall corn, or any other of the
extraordinary exhibitions that go to make u
successful fair.
, But, says some over.sensi,lve individual,
r horse racing is immoral in itself, and demon.
ai2ing to community We cordially agree
, to this proposition, if the iztention be for
, any other purpose than its only legitimate
, One--that of testing the speed and bottom,
the muscle and wind fthe horse.
This noblest of all animals if he be not
, good to draw heavy loads quickly over long
distances, harnessed to u vehicle or under the
rider is good for very little. The fibre,
draught and the power of endurance at swift
work, must be the true test Of value in the
horse
The difference between the racing course
and the trials OF speed at our fairs, should
therefore be, that while ut the race course
proper, swindling, gambling and other vile
practices, have been permitted until it has de-
generated into an arena of rascality, TO Its ut
ter discredit. AT our fair it may be both pos
sible and we'll to give the blood horse his
Legitimate place in the arena possible TO
show his powers of endurance in Il fair and
i legitimate manner; profitable to those who
admire this noble animal, and especially so
to breeders, who wish to know the capablli.
ties OF particular animals. Some straight lac.
a ,,,I, l., ,,,lr 70 I,
carefully lead horse solerly, solemnly, and
slowly, to the disgust of the noble animal,
the modification of his exhibitors, and the
disappointment OF every one present, except
"a hypOcrtiCal few, who would square the
conduct of others by their own narrow lines
of vision. The horse was made for speed,
the mule for labor, the OK for food. The only
way to test the value Of the first is by his wind
and bottom; the second by his power to draw
heavy loads continuously; and, the last, by
proportion of good beef points. 1t is true any
animal may be judged by experts, from its
outward appearance Horses, however, can
less easily be judged in this way than other
animals. We cannot see their internal or
ganS, and there are other disabilities not APP
parent to the eye or touch
/ The thoroughbred horse Is the type of all
that is active, speedy or enduring, in the no.
/ blest OF the animal creation. Speed and en-
durance are the measure OF value in the racer,
the trottinghOrse, the roadster, the saddle.
horse, or the horse Of all work. All these
have more or less of thorough blood. Now,
at our fairs, it Is not expected that great speed
can be made-it is not necessary-the tracks
are not suitable for this, and yet satisfactory
tests may be made, and fair to all alike. Is
there any reason why it should not be done
under proper restrictions
! M. and al, "a ,l.oc 10 %
! a horse under swift motion The stride of
the saddehorse, or the action of the roadster
or trotting.horse, must be taken into &C count
in the award of premiums; ana the condition
OF each animals competing at the end OF the
test, is an important integer. Two horses of
apparent equal powers may start; at the end
one may be painting, dropping and distressed,
a mere weed, while the other, after few long
breaths, will be fresh and ready and eager for
another trial. 1t is only in this way that the
Judges can make any kind of a true and cor
rect statement.
i All this must be accomplished without the
disgraceiul exhibitions Of the race-course,
with It's betting, pooling, and other rascal.
lies. The speed-test must be an exhibition Of
speed and endurance, and, properly cOndDct-
ed, is perfectly legitimate and one Of the
most interesting parts Of The programme at
our fairs. The drait-hOrse is different ami.
NAL, and bred for "a very different purpose.
j The tests must be- of course, made to meet
the necessities of the case The business
horse, since the introduction of railroads, has
acquired prominence never before held. A
demand has also sprung up for several other
classes having more or less speed combined
with muscular endurance, but more especial
ly for roausters, business horses, and horses of
all work. This last will yet become the horse
Z pt al yle brad IF thn pu
cheron- y Orman stock, crossed to thorough
breds, shall become plenty enough; and all
these classes must owe their speed and endu
rance to thorough blood their other good
qualities to crosses necessary to produce
them. Our fairs are as legitimate arenas for
these classes OF horses rs fer any other classes
of stock.
! We have been led to write this from seei.g
| in print but privately circulated, a scurrilous
and utterly untruthtul attack upon the ILL.,
nois board of agriculture for admitting trials
of speed as one OF the tests of the blood horses
We were present ut the discussion before the
/ board upon the question of trials Cf speed.
All that tended TO decentralization was closely
scanned, and as carefully guarded against as
hannah ingenuity could suggest. Gamblers,
pooling jockeys, men with betting books,
will be rs carefully excluded as possible, and
/ if found, will be quickly shown the gates at
the Ottawa fair next fall, and We hope, at ev-
cry other fair in The west where speed and
bottom are tess-tully as much so as will
thimbcriggers or other lew gambling swim.
dlers
Fairs are not projected in the interest of
any class They should be opponents Of the
industries of "a locality, a county, state or ma
zion. Those who visit them should be educa-
ted to understand that while that season is
to be used AS gala time, the chief object in
view should be selfimprovement and the aC
Iqnirement II correct knowledge. Here are
the best tools, implements and machinery /;
I improved stock of every kind; the best fruits
of the field, forest and garden, and the best
men of the various localities from which
gather the industrial populations.