St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-02-02

I am now fifty-fivo years old and
have had some considerable expert
ence during that time I'M stock breed.
ing. For the last ten years l have
kept n stallion or jack, and raised a
good many colts. During that time
l have boon a close observer Of the
many littlo things which are always
necessary to the accomplishment OF
greater things. Now, l see that one
man wants to know what sort OF a
mare he should breed to. I will cay,
none but good ones. The mare should
be of good blood and qualities. and
not under medium size; head rather
small, with a good eye In it;
body long, hips broad. withers
deep, legs short. Still. mares Of
other shapes bring good colts. Another
man wants to know what sort Of q
horse or jack no should breed his mare
to. l say that they should BIO we'll
bred. good size. very compact and with
good eye: In raising horses it Is just
as important to have good marc to
breed from as it is good stallion. and
in raising mules it is all-important to
have 6ns mare II you want q fine
mule. II does not cost any more to
raise a fine horse or mule than scrub.
Then why not raise the best. Another
man wants to know how long a mare
will carry a foal. Mares carry their
foals from ten months and thirteen days
to eleven months and seventeen days.
Eleven months and from three to seven
days, and eleven to fifteen days, is most
common, regardless OF their age; some
persons think that old mares carry
their foal longer than young ones. AS
to how old the colt should be when
weaned. l think it may be weaued Mt
five months. but six or seven months
is u better time. Always have good
pasture to turn them into ut weaving
time, for the next three years to come.
When three years old the colt should
have better attention, as it will be
shedding its teeth at that time. As to
tie best forage for colts in the winter,
would suggest oats. hay. German mil
let, with as much green pasture IS
possible. Swamp cane IL very good.
The colt should not eat much Indian
corn until it is four years old. and
should be kept in good growing con-
dition, but not too fat up to three
years old. After that work your
colt moderately sill the time and feed
him well and he will make you bet
ter horse or mule than If you had kept
him fat all the time and worked him
but little. Now, about working mare:
during pregnancy. they may be worked
all the time until q short while before
foaling time, say one month. with ad
vantage to the foal and mare. The,
should, however, be worked slow ant
kindly; never ride or drive them fast
nor carry any thing heavy on theil
loins, not even a small child. Tht
reader may ask. ''How do yo'
treat a mare that has been Sinking
her colts?'' Treat her kindly. q
above recommended, and II your mar
has been sinking her colts at hve
six, or seven months. as the case may
be, when she has carried the next on
nearly the same length OF time yo'
should watch her very closely. and
YOU see signs of abortion. give her on
table spoonful OF powdered bark iron
the common black-haw root. pounded
once a day. for a few days. IL ne
udder should spring up little and yo'
see other signs of abortion. double tn
dose and give it twice = day unit! IN
signs disappear. l am raising fron
three mares that have lost colts. an