Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-02-17
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN WHEAT


BRITISH AND AMERICAN WHEAT
GRowING.-The English economists
are puzzled by the problem presented
by wheat cultivation in India. To
that they ascribe many Of their. woes
and many Of the uncertainties of the
future. The first export of wheat
from India was in 1868, and the guam
tity was $50. 900 bushels. There was a
slow increase for few years until
1876. when the amount was 4,6S7, 900
bushels. In 1881 the amount was
1896, 167 bushels. For the six years
1882 81, the average export has been
81, $50, 900 bushels In the earlier years
most of this wheat went 10 Great
Britain, at least four-fifths of it; but
latterly, say 1882 TO 1887, the proper
ton has been less than one-half. The
price of India wheat at the place of
export has been a few cents less than
that of our wheat, but the ocean
freights have been about as much i'll
favor of the American product, and
on arrival the latter is found to be
cleaner and better. and is not preju
diced for better uses by the India
grain. Much has been said and written
concerning the possible rivalry be-
tween the wheat product of India
and that of the United States, and
the possible expulsion of the latter
from the markets of Europe. This
possibility may be regarded as very
remote for various reasons; such as
the imperfect methods of culture and
harvesting in India, the cost of inte
rior transportation, the inferior quail
ity Of the grain, the necessity of irri-
CATION etc.
India raises one bushel to head Of
the population, the United States
seven. India has one mile of railroad
to 10000 people, the United States one
10 435. The people of India require
by far the largest proportion Of their
wheat product for food and seed (and
their home appetite increases every
year., while the people of the United
States, after appropriating FIVE bush
els per capita have a surplus for export
equal to One-half the entire crop Of
the British Empire in the East.
ENGLISH SHIRE HORSES IN AMIR
ICA.-A valuable addition has been
made to the general stock Of heavy
draft horses in the United States by
the importation of English Shire
horses. In common with other breeds
Of English draft horses they are be-
lieved to have descended from the
Flemish race. In the middle ages,
when the knights and their horses
went into battle clad in heavy steel
armor, these ponderous horses were
largely used for military purposes
When defensive armor was laid aside
i'll consequence of the general use of
firearms, the heavy horses were rele-
gated to the pursuits of peaceful in
dustry. They had become widely
scattered through the British Islands
and the Continent. In England several
quite distinct breeds have sprung
from the original stock. The Shires
have their home in Yorkshire and
other eastern counties, whence their
name. The original color was black,
but as they were crossed with Clydss-
dale and other draft breeds, various
colurs became common, and great
improvement resulted The Shire
horse OF the present day combines the
best qualities of its own and other
breeds of heavy draft horses, while
the flat fine bone seen in some of the
best specimens even suggests an occa
sional dash of thoroughbred blood
Having attained its purpose, this sys-.
TEN of crossing has now ceased,
stud-book is maintained, and the
Shiresa are bred strictly pure.-Amencan
AgricuHwist.