The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-07-13


Horses for the Farm and Market.
John NJ. True, of Wisconsin, before
a meeting held in Wisconsin, said the
Test horse for the market sh ould be the
best horse for the farm. He based this
assertion upon the fact that the breed
ing of good horses is one of the most
certainly remunerative occupations
presented to the farmer. It is safe to
assert that considerable less than one.
fourth of the horses raised upon the
farm remain there either as work horses
or brood mares. The remaining three.
fourths are demanded for heavy work in
lumber camps, upon city drays. ex-
press wagons, street cars, omnibus lines,
or for lighter work in liveries or for
general road purposes. In each Of these
departments good horses are required,
and the demand is for an animal suited
for the work in hand. The breeder
who succeeds, has come to fully recog-
nlze the fact that there is no place for
the scrub. The horse that fifteen years
ago ranked among the best, now mainly
serves to show the great advance made
in proper appreciation of the prin-
ciples of breeding within that time.
One of the most noticeable changes
in the general requirements of the
horse market, is the call for greater
weight. The 1900 pound dray or
pinery horse of ten years ago, has given
place to the more popular weight Of
l4OO to 1900 pounds. The gentleman
seeking model horse for his carriage,
calls for 1900 pounds or upwards.
While the liveryman is no longer con.
tent with from 800 to 1000 pound nags.
The man who still adheres to his old
time theory of the 1000 pound general
purpose horse, and persistently breeds
in this line,lis drawing over a heavy
track, and on an up grade and cannot
win. 1t is just as inexcusable for the
champion of the little Morgan or other
light breeds Of horses to claim that they
meet the requirements of the general
horse market, as it would be for the
Clyde or Percheron admirer to enter
bis massive animal in a 2.20 race.
The first requirement in the produc.
tion Of good horse is good breeding.
So long as our farmers are contented
with using the old, unsound, vicious,
and unstable animals as their brood
mares, they are far from working in
line that will give them the best OF
horses; but when through ignorance,
penur!ousness, incidence or prejudice,
they mate these mares with some mon.
grel, said to combine the blood of all
the approved and popular breeds of
horses extant, their merits wonderfully
developed and intensified in this monde
script animal. they reap what they de.
serve, miserable failure, The best
mares obtainable should be selected for
breeding purposes. Mr.. True would
have the horse.breeding farmer care.
fully select the line of horses be can
best hope to succeed in raising, and
then steadily and persistently adhere 10
breeding in this line. The fckle man
should not become o stock breeder.
CARE OF THE HORSE.
If the horse has been hard at work,
give no water until he has rested fifteen
minutes, nor food for thirty minutes.
Drive slowly the first hour after meal.
Allow the horse to roll on dry earth or
sawdust once day at least. The even.
ing is the best time. Then at once
groom him thoroughly and outside the
stable. Thorough grooming cleanses
the hide as well as the hair. A dry
shampoo is best for horse. Better
use elbow grease than water. Bed
literally. The best horses are in dry,
elevated regions. Pureness and dry.
ness Of air in the stables are secured
BY an elevated site with the drains
under the walls of bank. .barns); keep
ing manure cleaned up and by having
the barn connected with cupolas by
ventilating shafts. Fairly good ven
tiation is secured by holes under the
caves. Have windows on east, south