Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-05-16
Method in Horse Breeding.
Cor. Country Gentleman.

breeding is SO little understood by
most farmers that it is not to be WOn-
dered at that in many sections of our
country scrubs" are numerous and
complaints many that horse-hreeding
does not pay. With a population
that is rapidly increasing both in city
and country, the demand for horses
is sure to increase in like proportion.
All kinds of horses always have been,
and all kinds always will be raised,
consequently there will always be
wide range in prices. Those who
breed for an object and attend to the
details, will find horse-breeding
source of profit as long as horses are
wanted.
1t is not possible for all to own first.
class mares, but this should not de-
ter them from using the very best
stallion obtainable, and thus take the
first step toward improvements.
The introduction of imported sires,
and the popularity they have won
wherever introduced, is termed by
many a "craze" that would soon die
out if let alone. They have let it
alone, but it does not die out, for the
reason that in the countries from
which these horses are brought,
method is used in breeding, A horse
is no better from the mere fact of his
having been imported, but years of
breeding in direct line, and from
sires whose purity Of breeding can
be traced back for generations, is of
incalculable value in sire, especially
one that is to be used in a locality
where the mares are If mixed or nos
putlcular breeding, because he has
received many iufusions Of blood
from one and the same source, every
one Of which adds to his ability to
transmit this same blood to his pro
geny. For this reason a sire should
be chosen, not because of some one
point in which he eXCels, but because
he averages best in all points, for pre-
potency and the laws that govern it
may be applied both ways, and any
defect in the sire is very liable to be
transmitted to the foal.
In this particular locality, Perch
erons have done much toward giving
Us better and more siZable horses.
More recently the French CoacherS
have been introduced, and have be
come very popular-in fact, are be
ing used now almost to the exclusion
of other breeds. Horses are wanted
for great many different purposes.
One that will weigh from l,l6O to
POO lbs, and has plenty Of action
and endurance, has perhaps more
places awaiting him than horse OF
any other description. The French
COacher crossed with our native
mares is producing horses admirably
adapted to supply this demand. Far
mers generally are becoming more
convinced that extremely large horses
have not the endurance, therefore
cannot do the work on the farm that
medium>sized ones, more compactly
built, can do. Notwithstanding this,
heavy horses are in demand in all
large cities, where heavy loads must
necessarily be moved through the
crowded streets slowly; so, from
motives of economy, heavy loads
tust be drawn, and heavy horses
used to draw them.
The question presents itself to the
farmers here in the East-Can We
compete successfully with the farmers
and ranchmen in the West in raising
heavy horses, especially when we
consider that they are already far il
advance of us in this industry? T,
raise draft horses successfully requires
he best Of food, and plenty of it, il
order that they may be fnlly develop
ed at as early an age as possible
With better grazing facilities anC
cheap grain, they can be raised there
at less cost, and for the same reason,
the tendency would be to get more
growth from them than we would
get here. The custom prevails il
some localities where a pure-breC
stallion has been kept for severa
years, for farmers to keep some o
their grades as stations, and by of
fering their services at q low figure
they sometimes succeed in gettin;
considerable custom. This practic
should not be encouraged where tn
services Of a pure-bred horse are oh
tainable; for, although a well-bret
grade stallion may, and OCCASIONAL.
does, get very good colts, the miXet