Evening star., 1896-12-26
come the most deadly enemy of the

become the most deadly enemy of the
horse.
Before enlargng Upon the damage likely
to be inflicted upon horse breeders and
horse dealers by such things. it may be
prudent to bear in mind that the question
Of the probable influence upon both by
artificial progression and propulsion was
asked, and with at least as much reason,
In the early days of railway locomotives
and the use of steam power for purposes
Of agriculture. Yet many more horses are
bred In these days than in those. 1t may
be that the number is not larger il so
large. in proportion to the population. The
enormous perpetual increase of the pop
ulation In proportion to the increase of
any kind of farm produce. in this little
country Is very important point to be
remembered in calculating the effect of
any rew factor upon the future demand
for a particular form of produce. This
consideration may we'll give rise to the
doubt whether, be the use of horseless
conveyanceS ever SO general, the demand
for horses will decrease sufficiently to
duce their number in this country very
materially twenty years hence. Judging
from the results of the steam plow, the
steam threshing machine, the steam tur-
nip chopper. the steam cake crusher and
the steam pulper, the motor cart is not
very likely to lead to the determination of
the cart horse; and. If the light railway
saves hin some labor, it is not more likely
to make his services unnecessary than the
ordinary railway. So far from anticipat-
ing the abolition of the cart horse by the
motor. we should be much surprised to
learn that large number Of cart horses
are not employed at the works of the large
horseless carriage companies themselves.
We will continue with the cart horse in
beginning our consideration of the injury
that may be inflicted upon horse breeders
by the substitution of steam power for
horse power. Among the most important
patrons Of the Shire horse and the Ciydes-
dale. as the cart horse is technically called,
according to his breed, are the brewers.
nd dn,rh fad dIx- xxyfl ha
them to have their prodigiously heavy
carts moved by steam instead of by horses.
Horses similar to those used by brewers,
again, draw the heavy vans of many manu-
facturers and merchants and dealers in
cities; it may be expected, therefore, that
the demand for such horses will seriously
decrease, and We should not care at this
moment to invest money in q large breed
ing stud of Clydesdales or Shire horses at
present prices. Not that we anticipate the
disappearance of either breed. On farms
in the yards of great works and railway
companies, and even, to some extent, in
carriage in towns, there will be ample op-
portunities for employing them. The light
van horse will probably, like the heavy
cart horse, he superseded by the motor.
Where he is useo time is generally of i'm
portance, and here steam power has an
advantage over him He is a fine, active,
useful animal and we should greatly re-
gret to see him gradually disappearing.
We have more fears in hrs case than In
that of the Shire horse or the Clydesdale
as there is little demand for him beyond
towns ard suburbs, and farmers are not
likely to go on breeding him for their own
use.
One of the mos: serious questions for
the consideration of farmers in connection
with motor carriages is the effect their
general use would have upon the demand
for hay. oats and any provender now con-
sumed by horses; hut this does not di-
rectly concern the future of the horse 1t
Is somewhat beyond the province of our
present inquiry. Another question which
our subject does not require us to answer
is, whether the breeding of horses, other
than cart horses. and apart from the con-
venience of using the young horses until
sold, is even now remunerative to farmers
There those who strongly maintain
that II is not.