The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-25

foot in his hand | did 50, and he help
ed me gracefully in that way. He was a
courtly Nasiiriile Americals.
Rearing Horses upon Farms.
While speeialties in farm products are
made exceedingly profitable by few
farmers, and the success of these becomes
an incentive TO others to follow the ex-
ample, it should not be ignored that, from
the nature of the case, special products
can only rarely be made successful
business, and if it were otherwise the
profits would be reduced by competition,
SO that there would be no inducement
for farmers To engage in it Again, such
a business requires special opportunities
and a degree of tact and aptitude in the
farmer which is not often found connect
ed with the requisite opportunities. 50
that in general it may be concluded that
a diversity of products is the only safe
rule to follow, and the more varied the
surplus of the farm may be the better for
the farmer Ii is, then, to be considered
what the farmer can produce that will
suit his circumstances best and be most
readily saleable for the most money.
Live stock fills the bill in the most
complete manner, and Of all sorts of live
stock horses stand first in the respects
named. Recently the British Govern
ment has sent agents to Canada TO pur-
chase several thousand horses for it, cav
airy and artillery service, and the prices
paid averaged fism $50 to sI75 for such
animals as were required. These were
sound, active, moderate-sized beasts, Of
no particular breeding, but able TO do a
fair allotment Of work. Such horses as
would serve TO do the regular work of
the farm are the kind required, and the
prices paid are about the same that farm
ers are paying for their working teams.
1t seems strange TO have to write this last
sentence, for one might reasonably sup
pose that the last thing that farmer
should have to purchase would be horses
to do his work when these animals are
20 easily and eheaply reared, and that he
should be forced To pay out $500 to $3.50
of hard earned money for team to do
his work at short intervals Of a few years
But the fact i 80, and prominent farm
er of northern New York recently aver
red that the farmers of his county Sara
toga) annually paid out $4,000 for horses.
Under these circumstances there is
profitable and sure business for large
number of farmers merely to supply their
own wants, not taking into account the
demands of the various industries which
use 80 many horses, and which demand
is constantly enlarging as population and
business increase, and the wants of the
enormous armies kept up in Europe, 80
uselessly and 50 mischievously for the
public welfare.
II is very common for mankind TO
aspire to great things and despise the
commonplace affairs Of the world. Farm
ers who think Of rearing horses want the
twenty -thousand-clollar kind, OF, perhaps,
more moderate in their desires, would
like to raise a few colts and sell them for
500 or $500 each. When a young
farmer becomes imbued with these high
notions he is on the direct road to
ruin as horse breeder. This class of
horses never vet made any money for
their breeders, but has ruined hundreds
who have spent inherited fortunes in If.
1t is not the diamond or gold which
makes the world rich, but the humble
clay of which bricks are made. the coal,
and the commonplace ironstone. In like
manner it is the ordinary farm or road
work horse which Will bring wealth to
the breeder Nevertheless it should be
the best of its kind No worn.out. dis
eased cast-Off-from-work mares can rear
the foals which will make money for
their owners. None but sound, healthy.
well-trained, docile dams should be used.
and these of kind which viii produce
good-sized colts: that is, Of large, roOnfy
build and good bone, but well proper
tioped The selection of the sire IL Of
4 ~ importance. Health and eonstitu-
ton are specially desirable qualities in a
sire; temper is another important quail
fie.stiOn Size is of little moment: this il
given by the dam. but figure and every
which denotes mental quail
ity should predominant in the male. The
OF weekly sires has cost horse
breeders millions Of money. There are
some strains which have been introduced
into the Morgan blood in Vermont which
have ruined all the good qualities Of this
noted founder Of most excellent stock,
and if we were to have the offer Of sires
Of such character free Of cost they would
be rejected without moments hesita-
ton. For useful class Of work horses
there are no better typical sircs than the
Clay and Black Hawk strains of the
blood, and indeed almost every
cross of Morgan has produced seryiceable
and valuable progeny.
The soundness Of the sire in every re-
spect should be insisted upon. Even ac-
eidental defects are transmitted. Blind
ness is hereditary. and large proportion
Of the get of blind sire viii lose their
sight in the first few years of their lives,
and few viii pass their seventh year
without exhibiting the defect of their
progenitor. SPAWN, ringbone, splints,
and other diseases become hereditary,