The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-13
to be seen in every field; also Southdown
Shnnn a. nd Shnrthnrna hut hn hnrsn ,u tnn

Sheop ana Sh0rthornS; but the horse is the
aninlai tor which everything elsc is given
up, air! rcsnd Lexington, within n radius
OF twenty miles, over $50 farms, of 800 to
500 acres each, are devoted entirely to
the breeding OF trotting and racehorscs.
81 must say word on the Kentucky
saddlc-horscs, which are peculiar to Amer
lea Men and women ride everywhere;
the smallest country town has its bars and
posts here and there in the main street,
and saddlc-horscs are to be seen in threcs
and tours, tcthored up waiting for their
owners return. 4 fine class of horse this
is 10 carry n sixtcen-stonc Kentucky farm
or. The breed is very docile, and is
trained to a peculiar running walk or
lee. Although an Engishman would net
think this an elegant gait, yet, if he had
10 ride some forty miles he would gladly
exchange his English hack for the Ken
lucky animal. The type is something of
the class of the English hunter, with q
shorter head and not quite such good
shoulders, for which quality the English
horse is probably unsurpassed; but still it
is type of animal our breeders should
give their attention to, as ii would be most
Seryiccablc in England for breeding riding
horses.
speaking for myself, could not leave
the ncighborhood of Woodburn without
feeling species of regret that | could not
own such farm and such horses, or he
able 10 spend six months of the year in
those beautiful park lands, amid the fine
timber, surrounded by pleasant ncghbors
!, lI,sn ,,nIr f,v,, ivy md
journey into Lexington or Louisville to
talk over trottcrS and compare notes in
general. till one ceased to remember ones
home was in England amidst the fogs of
cur midland counties and the msts Of
Oxford shire, where the Kentucky grass is
unknown.
Lexington, however, is not the only
part OF the Southern States where horse
breeding goes on, though it certainly is the
one place in America where one would
desire to live. The whole Of the country
that lies between the ranges of the AL
lcghanies, which mentioned above, is
paradise for the farmer. In many places
the fine bluegrass grows wherever the
'rrentham limestone crops up, all the way
from Ashcvillc, along the Norfolk and
Western railway, right up to the kanawha
valley, and the division between the north
branch of the James river and the Kan
awha. This farming region is covered with
magnificent timber, watercu by streams Of
considerable size and great beauty. and
well fitted for grazing and agriculture,
and nothing could be more attractive than
these stately arms and old homescads,
possessed by an ancient and educated
gentry, whose sons are educated in the
best universities before they return to
settle in their family home.
such is life in kentucky and Virginia.
II is unique in America. The Northwest
is complete contrast in every respect
The whole Of this country possesses Il
fertile climate, and varies from 100 to
900 feet above the sea- The isothcrm
Of the upper portion of the State of New
York passes down through this very coun-
try If it occurred to our English lads
WHO 20 cut to America that the South
Was worth their visiting, they would never
turn their steps to the inhospitablc plains
of Dakota and the Red river belt, where
the climate is icy in winter and 4 scorch
ing wilderness in summer. 1t should also
be remembered that land is to be obtain
cd for reasonable price a settled farm
Of fine grass and arabic land can often be
had for from sixteen to twenty pounds an
acre. | do not wish TO discourage enter
prise. but do say that many man who
would fail in y Northwest would find happy
home in this Southern land, breeding his
horses, eating his own Southdown mutton,
and living the life of Kentucky Squire
or landowner. After all, the English
landed class has more affinity with coun-
try life than capacity for manufactures or
the tcdiun of American viiladom, and an
Englishm;n who often feels himself out
OF his element IN Il New England town
and finds life in the Northwest too hard,
might do worse than make his home in
kentucky, where he would have enjoyment
and comfort, and possess all those lux
urieS and rctincmcnts to which he has
been accustomed in England.
In concluding my short mention Of the
American trottng horse, and the excel
lent testimony such brock bears to the
intelligence OF the kentucky breeder, |
can not DO more than say-Go out to Ken
lucky and see for Yourself what the coun-
try is Your ancestors went out there
100 years ago. and their descendants live
there There is plenty Of room for more;
there are farms 60 be had for prices you
cannilord to give. You will enjoy re-
fined home in which to settle and bring up
YOUR children. Instead Of going to the
North to invest i'll prairic-'ands, turn your
steps to kentucky, and YOU will bless me
for having written these few notes on the
old homcsteads OF Kentucky and her adj
mirablc breed of trotting-horscs.
MAELBOEOUGN.