The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-06-03
FARM HORSES,

II
able to raise is question of interest
to nearly every farmer. TrOtters
may he set aside. The care and skill
Required in training, even when the
colt has all the advantage of pedi-
gree, is such ~ would make serious
inrOads upon the time and patience
of all but II fortunate few. So the
trotter may be set down as not a
profitable horse for the farmer to
breed but carriage and heavy draft
horses are. Both of these kind are
scarce in all our large cities, and the
demand for them greater than the
supply; hence prices are always re.
lmmerative. For some years to come
no sort of farm stock will be more
profitable than these two classes of
horses. The carriage horse requires
a good share of thoroughbred blood
in him, else he will show deficiency
in style, spirit, action and endurance,
qualities that constitute the chief
value of that class. For draft horses
the native breed is entirely too small.
TO remedy this defect we must en-
ploy the best types OF imported stall
lions. The writer has watched with
interest the impOrtatiOnS of foreign
stock, rs telegraphed over the country
for the past few years, and gives it
as his judgment that the Clydesdale
has been the favorite, and represents
the best type of imported stations.
What seems singular, the heaviest
shipments of these horses have al
most invariably been for the Eastern
or Western States, where they seem
to be in high favor. Rarely has Il
shipment for Ohio been recorded.
Skipping the details of their anatomy,
appearance and peculiaritics, we can
say that no breed of heavy draft
horses are more valuable OH the farm,
either as pure breeds or to improve
our native horses, and this has been
Il rendered verdict in both the East
and West. Ohio, being first in the
national councils, might afford Il little
improved horse flesh.
MAKE BEEF WHILE THE GRASS GROWS.
A large number of farmers and
stOck-raisers appear to attach very
little value to growing grass Us a ma
terial for the production of beef and
mutton. They acknowledge, how
ever, that it produces q large amount
of milk, and milk that is very rich
in cream. They, accordingly. keep
their mich cows on the best pastures
they have, yet they are quite likely
to turn the cattle and sheep they III
tend to fatten for the winter market
into pastures that afford but small
amount of feed. They argue that
grass will produce large amount of
milk because that substance is chiefly
composed of water. But they hold
that it will produce little flesh and
fat. In the production of these sub
stances they think that they must
have more substantial kinds of food,
such rs corn. small grain, and hay.
They accordingly defer paying much
attention to feeding animals intended
for the butcher till the approach of
cold weather. A greater mistake
could not be made. May and June
are better months for the production
of flesh and fat than October and
l November. n klIlu OI IOOu UHdU Will
produce large amount of milk, rich
| in the materials that constitute but.
ter and cheese, will also produce a
large amount of flesh and fat. AS
grass is the best food for the produc-
ton of milk, the quantity and quality
both being taken into consideration,
so it is also the best food for the pro-
duction of flesh and fat. "June
butter" is held in high esteem, and
the like is true In respect to June
beef. 1t is tender, juicy, and pos
sessed Of an extremely delicate flavor.
There is no more favorable time for
the production OF beef and mutton
than the present. Grass is abundant,
tender. and sweet, and cattle and
sheep which are allowed all they can
consume will gain very rapidly.
Grass is the cheapest as we'll as the
best material to employ for the pro-
duction of beef and mutton. 1t
grows without cultivation and does
not even require harvesting.