Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-08
HoRSE.RAISINa.
An Industry which, at Present, 0Rsn
Better Advantages Than Cattle or Hog
breeding.

D. ranch is not as good as it was few
- years ago. Tho best locations have
been secured, and with rare exceptions
the natural supplies Of water are con
" trolled by parties who use them as they
70 do private property. In many OF the
" Territories there are combinations
% among the ranchmcn who have been
on the ground for several years that
= place all the difficulties they convent
emily can in the way Of newcomers
They have largo capital, and are ablo
70 exert powerful political influence.
They can obtain breeding stock to
better advantage than men who are
seeking to establish themselves, aAd
can secure more favorable terms iu,
transportation. They have prospered as
few persons have who have boen en-
gagged in any department OF stock-rAis-
ing. Many OF them will continue to mako
money, as they have experience, cap
ital and facilities that are now difficult
to secure. According TO the reports
OF several ranch and range companies
made at the close of last year the profits
on the capital invested were small. A
comparatively high price was paid for
young cattle, while beoves sold at low
figures. The action Of the National
Government in relation to grazing lands
in Indian Territory and the erection of
wire fences on public lands has been
unfavorable to the interests Of many
ranchmen.
Hog-raising is less profitable Than it
has been ut any time since the begin
ming of the civil war. The price OF all
pork products is very low. Our pork is
excluded from several countries where
It was once extensively sold. The Pc
riodic alarms about trichina in this |
country as well rs in foreign countries
have caused many people, especially in |
large towns, to abandon the use OF pork.
Theswinc disease popularity known as
hog cholera has made the business of |
producing pork very hazardous There
is more risk from disease in keeping
hogs than in keeping any other kind of
domesticated animals. Feeders who
keep hogs In connection with cattle
they are butchering for the market de-
rive the most profit from them. The
pork theyproducc is aclear gain. Very
few extensive stock-raisers now feed
corn or other grains directly TO hogs.
The outlook for large gains in keeping
sheep is very poor. Wool and ordinary
mutton are both very low. While many
are not inclined 10 sacrifice their nocks
OF sheep, few desire TO increase them.
Some find that there is profit in sup.
plying the local market with mutton;
others wish mutton for their own tables,
and few kccp sheep for the purpose
OF keeping up the fertility Of their land
All sheep-raisors are hopeful OF favor
able turn In their business.
The prospects for making money in
breeding and raising horses and mules
were never better than thoy are now.
Horses OF all descriptions command
good prices. AS wealth increases in
large cities there Is an increasing de-
mand for horses that will make fast
time on the racc-course, for fine car
riage horses and for riding horses. The
demand for heavy draft horses for use
on drays and transfer-wagons was never
bcttor. Tho demand for middle weight
horses is also good. The increase of
street Car lines in all large towns calls ll
for large number Of horses suitable
fordrawing cars. Street railways make
demand for more horses than ordi-
nary railways ever displaced. Tho de-
vulopmcnt OF Dakota and the western
provinces Of Canada has created de-
mand for horses in tho Northwest. | ,
They are wanted not only for ordinary :
farm work, but for drawing stages and
doing general tcaming. These parts OF =
the continent will require more horses
than they can produce during the next ;
twenty years. The first settlers Of any
new country can not engage in horse
breeding very extensively. They have
not the capital to purchase breeding
stock. to erect stables, and to enable
them to wait till animals grow TO
size that they can be put to work. They
find 1t to their advantage to raise cattle
and hogs for several years after they
have settled on their places.
Although the demand for mules in
the States north Of Missouri is small.
owing - a foolish prejudice against
them, the demand Tor them n the
South is as good as ever and promises
to continue. Raising mules for tho
Southern market is profitable busi-
ness for all who are so situated that
they can engage In It. Missouri, Kan
sas, Nebraska and Iowa are well situ-
ated for breeding and raising mules. +
The climate Is favorable, while grass,
corn and oats are leading crops. st.
Louis is the largest mule market In the
world, and It is easily reached by rail-
way or river communication by parties
living in any of these States. Exten.
'ivc buildings for protection are not so I
essential for mules as for horses.
Shelters for mules can be made of very
cheap materials. The mule is hardy
creature and will stand exposure that
will greatly injure horse. Mares
suitable for raising mule colts can be
obtained from Oregon or the Western l l
Territories at comparatively low prices,
and good jacks can be bought in Mis-
souri, and the States further south.
Parties proposing to engage in tho
business require considerable capital
as there win be no returns for at least
two years. After that time "crop"
OF mules can bc sold every year, and
the expenditure Of labor and money
will be small.
The raising of horses and mules can :,
be carried on in connection with grain =,
raising and general farming in most OF u
the Western States and Territories to q
excellent advantage. Most of the plow-
ing is done in the fall, and the mares I
that are expected to drop colts in the
spring can do this work. The mule or
horse colts will be Of size to be sepa.
rated from their dams before it is time :,
to commence cutting grass for hay or =
harvestinggrain. The mares that have !
dropped colts in the spring can draw IL
the mower and reaper In the summer
and early fall, and can pillow the land y
for another crop later in the season. is
BY judicious management the mares ?
can be made to do work enough to pay it
for their keep, so that their colts will y
be a net gain. All the food for the Of
mares and their progeny can be raised II
on the place, and there will be no et
money outlay, except for male animals b