The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-09
THE STATE FOR BREEDERS
Two Essentials Indiana Possesses for De-
yeloping Animals of High Strain.
Bluegrass and Water That Excel Those of
Kentucky-Support Of the People Needed
to Help the Horse Breeding Industry.

Horse breeders Association, held in this city
the past week, has called up numerous discus
sions between citizens, whose partiality seems
to be divided between tho various localities in
the United States as to the actual advantage Of
Indiana as o horse and cattls-raising State. The
association is IS yet SO young that it has not
stirred up sufficient interest, outside of its circle
of horsemen, to bring tho question into much
prominence, although during the last year there
has been a marked increase in its patronage.
Indeed, it has been only within the last
few years that Indiana has showed any ambi-
ton whatever to take leading place in the pro-
duction Of fast horses and the making Of
national records, and, as q consequence, what
ever superior facilities she may possess for
advancement in this line she has permitted
heretofore to pass unnoticed. Naturally enough
she Il compared with Kentucky in her strides
toward the goal Of her ambition, for until re-
Gently that region. 90 fertile in whisky and fast
horses has stood pre-smineut. Not only has
Kentucky sustained this position, but danger
Gus competition has never troubled her. But
Indiana has now declared her intention to play
tbs role so long conceded to her Southern neigh
Dor.
Tho two essential points, many horsemen
cl,im. in which Indiana is strongest and in
which she will take the lead are her natural
supply Of water and pasturage. No State in the
Union can excel her for the purity and abund-
ance of cool, spring water it being State max
i'm among farmers that it 10 poor soil where in
one hours time well can not be sunk
that will prove neahaustible. The running
streams Of Indiana, lined as they are with shady
banks aud leading off into cultivated fields or
grass and pasturage. not only increase facilities
in stock raising, but tend to bring an influx OF
the leading breeders FROM neighboring States
who naturally enough do not strive
90 much to aeersndizs their native
States as to advance their own
interests Pasturaee is principally confined to
blue grass. while other wild grasses contribute
to small degree. Probably no State In the
Union ranks as high, not even excepting Ken
lucky, in the growth and cultivation Of blue
grass belt South of the Ohio river, com prislng
a narrow strip of country that takes in Lexng-
ton, Frankfort, Eminence, Paris and afew other
Kentucky points, the raising of blue grass is al
most entirely pursued, but elsewhere IN the
State no attention is paid whatever to its pro-
duction. In Indiana the case is different. While
at present the growth in any one locality may
not be as dense as IL is throughout
the Kentucky belt. it is distributed much
more evenly throughout sur counties. As
would naturally be supposed, however, some
counties exceed others in the yield. Putnam,
Jasper, Owen, Lawrence Greene and Hendricks
are noted for their blue grass crops since 1885.
while the rest have varied In the State as a
whole 2099 $50 acres of soil were devoted TO the
raising of blue and other wild grasses alone in
1887. During the same year only 1852 $40
acres of timothy were grown.
Aside from the fact that Indiana devotes a
larger area to the cultivation OF pasturace 1t 10
an undisputed fact that the quality of her blue
grass is unsurpassed. kentucky again affords
the best comparison. Her grass, while it has
for years been considered the best, when COM
pared to the Indiana yield proves to be of
cosrser kind. There is fneness in the Indi-
ana blade, which Is natural, while the inferior
quality of the Kentucky crop is due 10 q long
pursued cultivation"
"Is Indiana's superiority in blue grass and
water supply the only thing that will conduce
to her success in the breeding OF fast horses7"f
was asked of one Of the leading horsemen in the
State recently.
"No, our breeders must be men of Judgment
to succeed. They have the best State in the
Union for breeding ground. and. if they do not
succeed inside Of five years. their failure will be
due to their own Ignorance. Good grass and
good water are not the only requisites for q
horse breeders success. There are two things
that must not be forgotten, and they follow
right at the heels Of good pasturage. These are
good shelter and good feed. Shelter from wind
and snow, aided by . good ventilation will do
moro to place Indianas horses in the foremost
rank than almost any other attention on the
| farm"
w. p Ijams, the owner Of the Warren Park
| farm at Terre Haute, however. does not enter
tain the hopeful views OF others re-
| gardipR blue grass culture in Indiana.
| He does not think this State will ever outrank
| Kentucky. '"Ths great difference between the
two States he said recently, sis in the people.
! Since tho days Of Henry Clay the people Of
KenIucky have beer lovers of fast horses and
| there the business Of breeding and training
! them is supported by the weaithiest class. The
| lndiansins will have to be educated up to that
| point. They are long way from it now"
''But how about the blue erassl' the reporter
| inquired.
"Oh, regard IL as foolishness to consider the
| Indiana bluegrass as ever being able to outrank
| that of Kentucky But then don't care to
SANDER our own yield That wouldn't do you
| know"