The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-03

That enterprising firm Sanl. Dyers y
Son, who are doing SO much to improve
the stock Of draft horses in Augusta and
Rockingham counties. held their second
annual Clydesdale Colt Fair at Weyer's
Cave Station Valley r. r. There was a
large crowd Of Augusta and Rockingham
farmers to witness the exhibition and ad-
mire the superb specimens of infantine
horsefesh, alongside their powerful sires !;
and those lovers of fine draft stock who
failed to attend certainly missed a rare
treat.
The Messrs. Byers had offered a pre-
MUM of $500 for the best, and $500 for
second best spring colt exhibited, and SO
colts, from months down to II days old,
were brought in to compete for the pre-
miums, besides s yearlings, which were
exhibited last year as Stockings, were there
to show the rapid development of the
Clydesdale horse. In fact, in comparison
with the Clydesdale, the ordinary draft
horse dwarfs into insignifcance, as for in
stance. Mr.. Robert Tutwiler showed a
half-b Clydesdale mare colt, II months
old, which, without having had extra keep
ing, weighed on the Goth, inst, 10l5 lbs
Messrs. B. had on exhibition their two
imported stations, Bramah, 5 years old,
weight 1900 lbs, and Brown Prince, 6
years, 1900 lbs. weight. Bramah has
made two seasons, besides the present one,
at Messrs. Byers' stables, and his colts,
both yearlings and stockings. demonstrate
his great abilities to transmit to his pro-
geny his own unsurpassed qualities as an
ideal heavy draft horse. Prince was
brought to the Valley last year at the
opening of the season, and stood most OF
the time in other localities, consequently
his colts are not so numerous in this part
of the county. and only a few of them were
shown; but they are said, by competent
judges. who have seen them, to be fully
equal to those sired by Bramah.
The forenoon was spent in sauntering
through the grounds, admiring the colts,
discussing horse generally, and enjoying
the very excellent music rendered by the
Weyer' Cave Cornet Band.
Messrs. Byers, determined that nothing
should be lett undone which would con-
| tribute to the pleasure and comfort of the
occasion, had prepared sumptuous din
ner, to which all were invited and to which
ample justice was done.
| After dinner Messrs. John F. Craun,
| Alexander Mowry and David Beard were
selected as judges, and the colts were all
dfawn up in line for inspection. Some
time was spent in a careful examination
and II colts of superior merit, belonging
TO tone to each gentleman), Brown Van
pet, T. M. Dice, S. S. Edwards, David
Alexander, Lewis Kaylor. VIM. johnson,
Henry Alexander, J. B. Roller, Solomon
Bartner, Ed. Huffman, John G. Grouse
horn and David Heatwole, were picked
out and placed together from these, those
of AIessrs. Vanpelt, d. Alexander, John
son, Roller. Burtner and Heatwole were
| selected as the best. Finally, after much
hesitation, Mr.. Burtner was awarded the
first premium and David Alexander the
second.
Our talented young friend, Chas. d. A.
| Curry, then delivered most excellent
impromptu address on 'Thrift and Enter
prise" The day was most pleasantly and
profitably spent and everybody left wishing
friend Byers unlimited success.
l. is truly wonderful how one OF two
enterprising spirits will contribute to the
prosperity of community OF even coun-
ties and states. To illustrate There are
a number of small farmers all over oul
country who raise, every year, a colt OF
two to sell at weaving time. Heretofore
they have been breeding to ordinary
horses at SIS to $40 insurance, selling the
colts at sos to $40. While now, through
the enterprise of Messrs. Byers, they MAY
secure the services of a Clydesdale sire a
only $40 insurance and get Ss75 to 500 fol
colts which are no more trouble or expense
1 to raise, quite as easily as they obtain the
former prices for the scrubs. So it does
not require an expert to figure out thu
| large profits in patronizing this enterprise
which deserves eyena more liberal patron
age than it has yet received, not because
it's projectors deserve success for the plucl
and energy with which they are pushing it
but because their efforts are destined tt
result in benefit to the community at large
in as great a proportion as to themselves
w.
Folly Mills Items.