The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-19
Horses in Europe.

Russia leads all other nations in tin
number of its horses. In 1876 she haC
Il $40, 600 horses, or more than all Eu
rope besides, and sixty per cent more thar
are owned in the United States. Compared
with other countries, Russia has one hors,
for every three and a-half persons, Aus
trla one for every ten, Prussia and Grea
Britain one for every eleven, France one
for every twelve: and Italy one for ever
twenty-seven. Far back in the history O
Russia the raising of horses has alway.
formed n notable branch of national in
dustry.
The Government of Russia deyotes spe
cial attention to the encouragement Of
horse breeding. There are no less than
twelve imperial studs, of which nine are
in Europe and three in the Caucasus
there are also fourteen Government depots
and country stables spread over the Em-
pire, each having from go to $50 stations
for public use, besides which are about
250O private studs that own $500 stations
and $4,000 brood mares. The Govern
ment offers prizes and medals at races and
exhibitions for improvement in the various
breeds. Over four hundred horse fairs are
held annually, and at fifteen of the most
important Of these from 2000 Il Io,G5o
horses are offered for sale, while in all some
100000 change hands at these fairs. Dur
ing the period from 1870 to 1875 Russia
averaged an annual export of horses ex-
ceeding in number % 1000. In the prov
inces Of Central Asia and Siberia there is
almost horse to every inhabitant Rus
STA requires in time of war, for its army
purposes, 272,O00 horses; Italy, $4,000;
Turkey 10000. Egypt has about 5000
mounted troops; Austria, $4,000 cavalry.
In number Of horses France stands next
to Russia, with 1858, sos; then Germany,
with 1885,, ,232, while Great Britain owns
2,255, l29. In 1875 the number of horses
in the United States was 1904 200, and
Canada claims the ownership of 2 1924 ,29O.
Not on y to individuals, but to the British
Government, is the present scarcity of
horses in England becoming a matter of
anxiety. Lord Roseberry stated in the
House Of Lords some time since that his
government had 5000 cavalry horses and
5000 artillery horses, but in case of war
there would be required at once in addi-
tion 2500 cavalry horses and 1000 artil-
lery horses; also at least %, 900 light and
10000 heavy transport horses.
War makes sad havoc among the horses,
and it is estimated that the late great civil
war cost the United States at least / ,00O,-
600 horses. When on a peace footing
the French army requires from 10000 to
10000 horses, although under the new
military law a war would demand 176, 900
horses. In Germany, for military pur-
poses, 81 900 horses are required when at
peace, and on a war footing, 233, 800 for
field troops, 10000 for depot troops and
81 600 for garrison purposes. Her cav
airy requires about 10000. These facts
are full of significance to the American
farmer and horse breeders, especially in
the event of a general European war, when
large demand must arise for our horses.
Already Canada has inaugurated the ship
ment of large numbers Of fine draft horses,
which meet with quick and remunera-
tive sale in Great Britain. The class OF
stock which may eventually be needed
abroad is the horse of good weight, strong
in limbs, full of endurance, hardy and
muscular. Certainly no inducement ex-
lists either at home or abroad for the aver
age farmer to waste his time and oppor-
tunities in breeding trotting horses, but
let his attention be devoted to rearing ser
viceable farm and draft horses, good fam
lily and carriage animals, and he viii make
far better profits and meet with far less
disappointments in the long run.-Amer-
ican CaLtiUator.