The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-02
INDUSTRIES Of CALIFORNIA.


prominent man in the earlier days of
the business for speedy trotters for
advertising purposes, was an unfor-
tunate error for the permanency of the
horse industry based upon the natural
conditions of trade.
This act attracted the attention of
breeders to one class of animals. and
Immediately created rivalry among
the Weather class for the production
of the fastest animals at this gait We
have about reached the goal, and the
rivalry has abated, followed by the re-
tirement of men of means. as a rule.
thereby annulling the demand at fancy
prices for fast animals.
In the accomplishment of their de-
!sires. the country has been filled with
a numberless lot of high class trotting-
bred horses that were of no use as
trotters, and We're thrown upon the
market in competition with other
classes. thereby causing a slump of
almost rs per cent. in values in the
past two years, as the output of the
great breeding establishments of our
country flooded the market.
The result is a curtailment i'll breed
ing, so that in few years we will
have adjusted ourselves to the legiti-
mate demand, and good prices for the
horse will return. The small breeder
was the principal sufferer during the
fad" season. as he hoped to breed and
raise trotter that would be pur-
chased for a small fortune, and to that
end neglected other classes OF horses
for which there was steady demand.
We must begin anew, and produce
variety of breeds for which there is
and always will be a. steady demand.
We note with satisfaction that the
United States Department of Agficult-
ure has taken up the question of horse
breeding, and is gathering valuable
facts in relation to the foreign export
trade. We can raise horses as cheap
as cattle and the latter is being ex-
ported in great numbers. Now, then,
if we but know the requirements of
purchasers abroad and cater thereto,
we will create a new demand for this
valuable animal, and infuse new life
into the industry.
At a recent convention of livestock
breeders. held in St. Paul, Mimi, much
consideration was given to the subject
of horse breeding, and the idea was
advanced by expert pIeGQClS III dLlCii0
ance that the ruinous prices which pre-
vailed for this animal during the past
few years would soon bring about
horse famine. as breeders had been
driven out of the business. This evil
dence is conclusive that our view Is
the correct one, as four out of five
were breeding the American trotter,
and the dumping on the market of the
surplus, as an all-purpose horse, de-
preciated values of this particular class.
We must heartily concur, however,
in the recommendation advanced-that
the American horse industry should be
foremost among the branches of agri-
culture, and that farmers and breed
ers should inform themselves relative
to the foreign demand until trade is
established. as has been for other ex-
port products.
1t was shown that there are five
classes of horses that may be bred
for this demand First, high-class
coach horse; second, stocky CAP
horse; third. the omnibus horse, which
we would call heavy carriage animal;
fourth, the heavy drafts of not too leg
gy appearance, and fifth, limited
number of the American trotter. Sui
no hap-bazard methods of making one
class answer for another can be en-
pIoyed The breeds must be distinct
and full of quality.
There must be devoted the same at
tention to improvement as was given
the trotter in California, which State
ranked as one of the leaders in the pro-
duction of high7class animals Azote.
still holds the gelding record of 2:04A,
while Directum (2:0oI) is the king OF
stations, and both are California bred.
As shown by recent statistics, there
are but five States in the Union that
have bred three or more 2:10 trotters;
California is second in the list, with !,
credit of thirteen. In the great table
of speed producers, the illustrious Cal
ifornia sire, Electioneer. shows parent
age to the greatest number ,(forty-two)
of 800 trotters given the American
turf.
In this State, where the highest class
trotters were bred, we find less of any
other class as a distinct breed If this
be SO in other great breeding States.
then our premises are correct, and the
great reduction in values is explained.
The over production of one class great
y
California, have an excellent founda-
ton in our matrons to cross upon 9TH
er breeds, giving them that style and
uniformity Of makeup which have
characterized the trotter: hence we
hope to see breeding of horses take in
this State a new start, based upon tie
requirements of the markets to the
end that the American horse will have
tn yafC IF ttssy xprfI
What mas been said of the trotter APP
plies to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are over
supplying the market.
SUGAR BEETS.
In California, this coming season,
there will be a marked advancement in
the planting of sugar beets which will
give the agrculturist that which is Of
great Vatican additional paying crop
for rotation. Lands in California have
been put to the same uses, as a rule,
year in and year out. and we are
greatly surprised that they have not
become exhausted sufficiently to require
artificial fertilization. This requirement
we hope will be overcome by a judi
cious rotating of crops
We wrote exhaustively upon the sub
ject If sugar beet growing in our re-
port for the year 1898. and applications
for Information upon that one subject
have about exhausted our supply of
printed matter. We have inquiries
from all over the United States for ag-
ricutural information, and We have
given attention to each and every in
quiry regarding the possibilities of our
State.
In our efforts to show practical re-