Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-09-07
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

vOluDle freeman, or lOQuaclOuS
member of lightning rods, comes along,
and then they act hastily and often
rashly, to their after sorrow. In no
one particular have they shown this
more clearly than in their failure to
adapt their breeds of stock to their
lands and their pastures. a man
with stiff land, hard to break up,
keeps the same size horses as he that
lives on light sandy soil. Cattle that
are heavy feeders, and have been ac-
customed for centuries to rich succu-
lent pastures, are expected to thrive
and do well on those of scanty herb
age, and it none of the best of its
kind.
This is all wrong. \ wise man should
suit his horses and his cattle to his
land if he would be truly and econom-
icallv successful. Few farms that we
have seen that do not require differ
ent sized horses. The one of size and
strength for his sod land, the other
lighter and more active for that easier
broken up, and for riding and driving
purposes; for few are disposed to keep
one for these purposes alone.
And so with COWS. \ man whose
land brings clover and timothy finely
and who lives near Il town, can keep
JERSEYS and GuernSeyS for butter, or
Avrshires, Holsteins or Herefords for
milk. because these are readily salable
but the farmer at a distance on equal
" good pasture land should not, for
the expense of selling soon eats up the
profit
In these days of low prices, when
economy must be used, it would be
well if farmers would examine their
stock and see if it is suited to their
lands and pastures.
And with this in mind we at once
see how different breeds of horses and
COWS should be seen on every farm.
The large diaries now Springing up
over the West are a proof that the
location has all to do with the pro-
fits of keeping cows for butter and
cheese.
As TO horses ii is hard to give
general rule The Percheron has
grown into favor for their large size
and general activity, but are reported
unsound in theirlegs. The Cleveland
bavs promise better, but are too little
known to give much assurance. The
Dutch breed of Pennsylvania are too
heavy and sluggish for riding or driv-
ing purposes. The Canadian rather
small and ill adapted to hot weather.
The MorganS are rather small and ill
tempered. The race horse, as now
bred. too small for farm use, yet when
crossed on large mares make the best
all-purpOse horse that we have ever
seen. Years ago this section was full
of HickOrys, Badgers, Streamers,
Tuckahoes, All Blacks, Dare Devil
and other breeds; horses of good size.
powerful muscle. excellent wind and
great endurance, a breed that left
little to be desired. Since then, less
attention has been given to blood,
and as a consequence, the horses are
smaller and of less endurance. Not
few of these half breeds were service
able horses at twenty years and over;
not so now.
To conclude, study the various
breeds of horses and cattle thorough
ly. Examine your land as to the size
horse it needs 10 cultivate it properly,
and your own for driving, and select
the one that comes nearest TO filling
the bill, and raise or have no other.
Look at your pasturage, and keep
cattle to suit it and not the corn crib.
Take the breed that will keep in best
condition on it in summer and take
the least food in winter, even if but
ter and milk are not so plenty. Then,
as you improve your land, get more
produce and better pasturage, change
to better breeds.