The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-27

market There was Z local demand
for all the oats and corn that could BE-
raised Much Of the best land was re,
quired for the production of small
fruits and vegetables that could not be
brought from distance in good condi.
ton. On most farms colts would ..eat
their heads Off before they were old
enough to do farm work. II a pair OF
8 or 4 yenr old grade Norman OF
Clydesdale horses could be obtained TO,
$500, it was better for farmers to buy
them than to raise them on their places
On eastern farms there were generally
large barns and good water, but there
were no other advantages for raising
horses suitable for hard work.
That the New England and middle
states will in the future require many
more horses than can be raised there
seems obvious. Oxen are no longer
needed for doing farm work as they
once were. The fields are now free
from stunps, SO that horses can be en-
|. ployed to better advantage. Much OF
the land is devoted to grass, which is
cut by machine, and horses are needed
to draw them. In the dairy districts
horses are wanted for hauling the milk
TO- market or to cheese factories. In
the lumber districts OF Maine horses
have generally taken the place of oxen
for hauling logs. Horses are also EN-
ployed for drawing ice, stone, and
sawed lumber In all the seaside and
mountain resorts there is large de-
mand for horses. Oxen are no longer
desired on farms except in cases where
they have been recently cleared. The
TIME has passed when oxen can be
worked till they are 10 or IL years old
and then fattened and sold at good
prices for beef. The meat of old cattle
brings a low price and there is but little
demand for it. An OK team is now a
curiosity in many towns in the eastern
states,
Probably the time will never come
when the cotton and sugar growing
states will raise all the horses and
mules that are required for doing farm
work and teaming in the cities. The
climate and soil gre not well adapted
to the production of grass and oats,
which constitute the principal food for
draft animals. The corn fodder and
most of the forage crops produced are
wanted for dairy cows or teams en-
gagged in work. Horses and mules can
not be raised with profit on food
brought from the states further north.
Kentucky and Missouri farmers have
for many years found the raising Of
horses and mules for the southern mar
ket the most profitable branch of busi-
ness in which they can engage. With
the present improved means of trans
portation by rail and boat the cost of
taking draft animals from the north
western states and territories is small.
The cheap lands, the excellent pastur-
age, the abundance Of hay, oats, and
corn give western farmers advantages
| not possessed by those living further
south. The cheap food will more than
compensate for the greater distance to
the southern market.
The demand for horses in all the
sparsely-settled portions of the north
western states and territories will long
continue to be great Comparatively
few Of the settlers take teams with
them. Many of them are foreigners,
who expect to buy teams near where
they take up land to improve. Few of
the first settlers in part of the country
are in condition to raise horses and
mules. They have but small means to
/ put into stock and farm buildings.
i They are in Immediate need of house,
farming utensils, seed, fences, a work
team, few cows, and pigs. They have
not the means to provide shelter for