Thomas County cat., 1886-02-25
REARING HORSES.
q Branch Of Stock-Raisins That Offers
Ample Remuneration.

Ample Remuneration.
1t would seem that we ought to be
done with the importation of farm
stock. Very few hogs are now i'm
ported, and the most popular breeds,
in the pork-packing section at least.
are those which may truly be called
American. The importation of Short
horn cattle has dwindled down to small
dimensions, and English breeders not
infrequently come to this country for
additions to their herds. We have as
good Jerseys in this country as can be
found on the isle of Jersey, and the
importation of these cattle would
amount to practically nothing, were
our home production of them suffi-
cient to supply the demand. Of some
of the newer breeds of cattle the inn
portation will be quite heavy for some
years to come; but this is because the
number of such cattle in this country is
quite small and their increase is insult
ficient for the demand. OF sheep, we
import very few. Among sheep, cattle
and swine it is only the breeds of re-
cent introduction from which impOrta-
tions are made, and we have many
breeds which have been bred to such
excellence in this country and for SO
long that there is no need of our going
abroad to get first-class animals or to
supply the home demand. But, strange
as it is, this is not the case among
horses. Although the horse is the
fo,. ,1 .,f in
telligence and utility, we have done far
more for poultry even than for horses.
We are almost altogether dependent
upon importations from France, En-
gland and Scotland for horses to pro-
duce heavy draft or heavy farm horses
here, and while we have done better in
the breeding and rearing of carriage
and speed than of heavy horses, we
have not such race and roadster horses
that we can be justly satisfied without
importing from other countries. Ken
lucky has long been famous for its
3peed and Pennsylvania for its heavy
horses, but neither can boast of as good
as may be found abroad, and these two
States have very few good horses, COM
pared with the number now in the
Union.
Under the circumstances an unusual
interest and activity in the breeding of
horses is to be desired and encouraged
We have had sufficient time to rear
enough good horses to supply all our
wants, and to be compelled to 90
abroad for horses shows that we have
been neglectful of our highest interests
There is no reason why we should not
rear as good horses as can be found
anywhere on the globe. 1t is known
to every intelligent horseman that the
soil. climate and pursuits of the people
determine the character of the horses
of a country. We have the soil and
the climate, and our pursuits are cal
culated to produce the finest work
horses in the world, whether the work
is to draw the heavy dray, the plow or
the gig. If we have not such horses as
we ought to have it is simply because
we have not tried to rear them.
At present no branch of stock-raising
rearing of good horses. The prices for
good horses have very nearly held their |
own, and the result is that to-day |
horses, as compared with other farm |
stock, bring the highest prices, and
there can be no doubt that those prices
yield good profit. Good draft or car
rlage horses are quoted regularly at
from one hundred and seventy-tive dol |
lars to two hundred and fifty dollars
each, and well-matched draft teams are
sold for seven hundred dollars or eight |
hundred dollars, and carriage teams
for yet higher figures. These horses
can not be otherwise than profitable.
and it is just such horses-the best
that yield the big profits. While horse
rearing can be made highly profitable
there is very little if any clear profit in
raising inferior animals. Maryland |
Farmer.