The record-union., 1897-02-02

market that We're purchased at low
prices, and adapted for use in place Of
the appropriately bred animal, had
great effect upon values. as market
changes in prices of any product regu-
lates its production.
These facts have very materially af-
fected the breeding of types for which
there is, and always have been a linn
tied demand. viz, heavy drafts of from
l 800 to 1,G00 pounds in weight. the
tOppy carriage horse Of proper size,
color, action and quality, and the cav
airy horse for army uses. The United
States Government have in the pasI
been heavy purchasers Of CaIifOrui l.
bred horses of from 1000 TO 100
pounds, of uniform quality. But prices
have been SO low that the breeder Of
these classes could not meet the com
petition hereinbefore mentioned and 9s
a consequence either reduced or ceased
breeding.
From statistics gathered by this office
there is shown to be a 10 per cent. re
ductiOn in the number Of horses in this
State as compared with the returns of
one year ago While there is a percepti
BILE increase in values, the averages
show as follows:
Under one year old. 50 per head; un-
der two years and over one year. SlI;
under three years and over two years,
SD; and over three years old, So; as
against 81. SO, S14 and SO respective
ly Of the year 1895.
We are of the opinion that more op-
perfume time never existed to com
8
horses, but not on the haphazard idea
that anything as long as it is a horse
will do, but by proper selection Of blood
lines making a union that will give uni
form merit. The farming community
Of this State can profit by taking ad-
vantage of the present conditions ana
prepare for recovery of values that in
our belief will come and be national in
its character
California is better provided to ad-
vance the breeding Of high class car
riage horses than many other States by
reason of her trotting bred stock that
we have been years in perfecting. This
class of stock crossed on the coach Or
hackney blood will produce a superior
carriage animal, which is considered
the best selling horse the farmer can
raise, 2 s this class can be applied 10
more general work than any other type
and their lofty, high-bred appearance
greatly assists in their sale. But no
rough coated half-bred mares should
be thus bred; use nothing but trottinG
bred, wel-formed mares for this pur-
pose All other classes of farm mares
should be crossed with the best draft
Of 40
truck and delivery wagon animal, for
which there is always a steady demand.
The only way to insure recovery of val
ues is to improve the breed of the gan
eral utility animal and furnish what
the trade requires.
SHEEP AND WOOL.
California has since the year 1913
experienced regular cycles marked Iy
distinctive productions that have COM
manded attention in the markets of
the world In the period of years from
1913 to 1860 she was introduced by and
celebrated for her gold productions:
from 1850 to 1876 her cattle. wool and
wheat products We're extremely promi-
nent: from 1876 to 1896 wine making
and fruit growing marked the event OF
this period. all of which in their re-
spective day gave celebrity to Our
bOuntiful State.
During the reign Of extensive cattle
and sheep raising owners were. meta
phorically speaking, knighted as barons
and counted their flocks by the tens of
thousands, ranges extended over a vase
territory of unclaimed Government
land. and with most favorable climatic
conditions California was looked up0n
as the ideal spot for the production of
these great essentials. beef and wool
For a time no other industry was
thought of. peace and plenty prevailed
and this State was looked upon as the
Mecca for mankind.
Vast focks of sheep in bands of from
two to three thousand roamed the
ranges in the counties of Los Angeles.
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern. !