The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-10-01
Farmers Should Raise Their Own
Horses and Mules.

WneQ one compares lNe PtlCeS VI
horses aud mules with cotton, it would
seem the greateat folly for Spartanburg
farmers to depend on western markets for
their farm animals. Last winter good
mules ranged from s120 to $50. That
is equal to four bales of cotton at present
prices. To bring mule through TIL he
is three years old, provided the farmer
has pasture, will not cost exceeding
SIS. The fact i5 q two-horsc farmer will
never miss what a colt eats, unless he
belongs to that class that has no pasture
land and buys his horse food on time.
Home raised colts are always hardy and
do not have to be acclimated and hard
ened like western stock when brought to
this section.
A pasture set in Bermuda grass will
cheaper the price Of raising colts very
much. This differs from the wire grass,
and is easily kept within its own limits.
Five acres of fair upland or branch bot
toms set in this grass will afford sufficient
pasturage for ten head of stock from the
first of May till killing frost All stock
likes the grass and it gives milk and but
ter good flavor. Clean cultivation will
keep it from spreading If it is desirable
to cultivate the Bermuda pasture the sod
should be turned in the fall when the
grass has been killed. The freezes of
winter will kill the roots. Narrowing
and cross plowiug in the early spring
will pulverizs the soil and prepare it for
a crop. A Bermuda sod will increase the
fertility of land 50 to 100 per cent. 1t
requires two strong, steady horses or
mules to turn the sod.
It is always considered cheaper to
raise mules than horses. They mature
faster and thrive under circumstances
that would keep horse colt poor. But
the true idea in raising colt of any sort
is to keep it in a thrifty condition all the
time. Never allow them to get "dead
poor" just to tougher them. Even when
colts have the run Of pasture small
grain ration once day will help them
very much. With this treatment will
pay for their keeping after they are two
wears old. The most saiable mules, as
we'll az the most desirable ones for our
farms, are the active, lively medium
mules. To raise such good Jacks are re.
quired, and few stylish, we'll made..fel-
lows about fifteen hands high would
prove paying Investment in this Coun-
ty. A farmer, or a neighborhood, that
would purchase such q Jack would not
lose anything. In fact, it would be a
paying investment.
Now, if our farmers determine to raise
colts, some of them will have to turn
over new leaf. The fact is they will
have to tear out the old ones and throw
them away. A man cannot spend half
his time riding around to political meet
ings and to the little towns and raise
colts with any success. He will have to
give up western corn and hay. About
one.third of his cotton land will have to
20. He must plan for au abundance OF
forage for his work animals as well as his
colts. If he attempts to raise them on
liens they will coat twice heir worth.
The man who can always spare horse
or mule or milch COW when the demand
is strong and the price high, is in pros
porous condition. He who is always
short on work animals and has to buy on
time will keep behind. Let etspartanburg
County begin from this date TO raise
more small grain, corn and hay, so as to
be able to raise colts which will always
be in demand st good prices,-Spartan-
L..<, Con.yon