The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-11-30
FARM AND EIRESIDE.

SUCCESS IN BREEDING HoRsEs.-Mark
Comstock contributes a paper to WaAdce's
Monthly, on the above subject, from
which we condense the following:
Many breeders have plans to start with,
but either forget them at the critical mo
ment, or change them so often that their
selections point to no clearly defined
method. This is nearly always the ex-
perience of the novice. He is educated
only by experience, and gains his knowl-
edge by the mistakes he finds he has made
at the start.
Hence we find many places with a few
choice animals, and a large number of
ordinary ones, that it would be desirable
to dispose of could a purchaser be found,
but which are. generally held because the
owner dislikes to face the necessary sacri-
flee. The first loss is generally the best
in such cases, and that fact is coming to
be generally understood with the present
depression in the selling value of ever
choice animals. Where lack of means
dictates selections, it would not appear
SO strange that animals wanting in some
of the essential qualities for breeding,
should be CHANGED in the hope that the
deficiency may be counterbalanced by
ether superior features, and overcome in
proper cross; but with ample means at
command many young breeders make
their purchases at random, and COM
pletely squander their advantages.
Sooner or later most of them better their
condition by either selling out entirely,
or wedding out their stock and repur-
chasing. The writer has noticed in an
extended observation of some years past,
that frequently the poorest beginnersafter-
ward become breeders of excellent judg-
ment. Experience is an expensive but
very effectual teacher, provided the re-
cipient of the lesson is capable of learn
ing. But there is now and then a clear bust
ness mind that takes up this subject Of
breeding and makes a study of it before
v%enturing to put its deductions into prac-
tice. Such men determine what they
want before they buy at all. and then
keep their aims clearly in mind while
selecting. They go straight by their
chart from the first, and usually accom-.
plish something to show for it. They dc
not follow the same path, nor do they
all aim to accomplish the same object
but, having thought far enough to create
an ideal which they hopeep initiate, il
generally possesses sufficient merit to be
of value when approximated, and hence
they succeed as breeders.
1t is frequently asserted that there is
no definable way of breeding that will
bring success, and that the whole system
is one of chance, great results coming
when leastexpected, and disappointment
following the most logically conceived
plans. There is a greater measure Of
truth in this claim than even the mos
ardent enthusiast on the subject can sci
aside, if the object sought be profit il
the investment, and no other aim in view
in the breeding problem than the ba-t
question of trotting speed, and bottom
The most successful breedersin this coun
try produce too many blanks to thei
number of prizes to keep the balanc,
sheet right, unless the blanks possess
value independently of the question o
speed and with the blanks in the rati,
in which they appear on many stu'
farms, it is a question whether their dis
posal is not a matter of far greater mo
ment in financial sense than that of tn
prizes. 1t is the common experience Q
breeding on any considerable scale, tina
after a few years. trial it isfound desirabl
to reduce the mares in numbers to tn
few for which a direct nick has bee
found, and dispose of the others, no mat
ter with what care and judgment the,
were originally selected. This has bee
the experience at Thorndale, Stony Ford
andother noted establishments, and mus
continue to be so. Therefore, ever,
point which tends to produce a foal sal
able for other purposes than speed, tina
can be comprised without sacrificing tn
chances of that most valuable element
should receive due business consideration
in selecting breeding animals, in orde
that the produce that fails to come u
to the standardmay yet bring the breede
out without loss.
THE SHEEP QUEsTIoN.--From almos
every quarter of the country, says tn