The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-19
Scrub Stock Gradually Being ELM
mated - Requirements Are for
Higher Grades-ExpOrt Demand
Large-Draft Horses From Clyde
and Percheron Imported Stocks
Sought by Foreigners Here.
MARKET SUMMARY.
FINANCIAL


The existing shortage in the supply of
horses is becoming more and more apparent
70 dealers, and producers are bestirring them
selves to make good the deficiency resulting
from the neglect to breed during the past
four or five years. With the introduction
of electric car plants in every city of con-
siderable size in the country, and the sur
prising development of the bicycle interest,
and the resulting large withdrawal of the
horse from street traffic and family use
In the way OF luxury the prices naturally
declined to q marked extent. Demoraliza-
ton seemed for the time being to overwhelm
the breeders. And 1t is time that the gen.
eral classes of horses did not pay the cost
Df their production during a larger part of
the period mentioned.
But there were, meanwhile, some breeders
who did not permit themselves to become
unduly exercised over the condition of
things which so unexpectedly overlook the
Industry. These men were wise enough to
ioresee that the tendency to discontinue
breeding must sooner or later, result in
bcarcity, and they set themselves about pre-
pairing to provide against it, and are now
coming into possession of their reward.
The result of this check in breeding was
productive of much benefit to the industry
In general; in fact, 1t had the effect of put
ling end to the over-breedng of a class
h scrub animals only fit for the hacking and
grinding uses of the street car companies
The change has been a welcome one, for the
Vision of the sympathetic human being Is less
frequently offended by the sight of those
btraining, over-burdened beasts pounding out
heir lives On the hard or slippery pavements
pf the city. With the dscontinuance Of the
breeding of this class of mongrel animals, so
lily proportioned through size and weight to
The performance of the work allotted to them
II was learned that the demand for them in
other directions was SO limited that the fur
Their propagation of that quality was prac-
tically useless hence they have been allowed
to die off and I'd the world of their pres
ence.
But the recent revival in all industries has
called for horses of a higher grade; and
how the Industrious, thoughtful breeder who
during the years of dullness and depression
went on sensibly in the conduct of their bust
ness, are approaching the period OF realiza-
ton On lines Of p.ofit. And they are meet
trs with very little competition. A visit to
the Midway horse market a few days ago by
the writer revealed some well filled decks of
horses of superb classes, between four and
seven years old. And the close of each week
finds the stalls vacated by the animals which
comprised the allotments arriving at its be-
ginning. And the dealers there express salts
trade. They point to the fact that there has
been no fall crop of foals matured since 1894,
subsequent to which date a sort of paralysis
eefell the breeding industry. In fact, the
crop OF the year mentioned Is only now
coming to maturity. They reason that this
must soon be exhausted, and ask from what
source the deficiency is to be supplied, mas
much during the years 1895, 1896 and 1897
practically no attention was given to the in
dustry.
Now, It is time that there is much en-
enlargement to breed, but the opportunity is
here for breeders to lay the foundations for
the production Of a higher grade of stock.
The demand for scrub stock Is likely to be
very limited hereafter, and the tendency
Will be towards more careful selection. Here
tofore, in many cases, complete Indifference
has been shown in the matter OF crossing
For at this point 1t may be well to intro
duce an extract from the Iowa Homestead on
the subject OF the horse industry, as follows
We have said that the situation was an
encouraging one to those who proposed to
breed WELL and we would desire to empha-
size this qualification. A farmer friend
who had been impressed with the idea that
the supply of colts coming on in the coun-
try was very meager, recently told us that
he intended to breed everything on the place
this spring. This, we satisfied, will be
quite as great mistake not to breed at
all, unless all the females on the place
happen to be good ones One of the mis-
fortunes for which the horse industry las
suffered in recent years was the fact that
so large a proportion of the mares bred
were unfit for breeding purposes. People
seemed to think that almost anything would
answer on the dams side. and the result
was lot of horses accumulated that the
market did not want, many of them being
given away when anybody could be found
to accept them, or turned out to shift fer
themselves when autumn came and thera
was a scarcity of feed. We have no idea
hot hA lima will
there will be paying demand for poor
horses. The scrub is likely to cost more to
grow than can be got out of him. But there
will be-. we believe. a very strong demand
for good horses, and to produce them viii
require good. sound dams, with good size, as
well as good sires. Instead of breeding
everything on the farm, therefore, we would
only breed those which in style. conform
alton, soundness, ETC., gave promise of be-
ing able to produce when properly mated,
q colt of some one of the several kinds that
are in demand and are likely to continue In
demand What these kinds are has been
too often told to need repetition here.
All the larger horse markets of the coun-
try show decided falling off in receipts when
the early spring season is considered. This
clearly demonstrates the existing scarcity
Strangely enough there has been large ex-
portation Of draft horses from America. The
Drovers Journal furnishes the following on
this interesting and important point:
The enormous export movement of draft
horses and the probability that for many
years foreign supplies will be purchased In
America is exciting interest in the differ
ent draft horse families among breeders.
In the Chicago market a black Percheron
fve-year-old gelding touched the high point
of the year at S307.50, purchased for export
to Germany. Shires and C,ydesdales have
sold individually as high as $780, but all
these high-priced animals weighed upward
Of 2.c00 pounds. They were all geldings and
high grade, but not full-blood horses The
highest average for forty head Of drafters
was paid by N. s Symonds, London. The
consignment was mostly Shires and Clydes-
dales. and cost an average of $3.50 per head
The English market is partial to horses
with a fringe of hair on the legs found in
the Shire and Clydesdale breeds, while the
German and Belgian trade gives preferences
TO the Percheron horses. Dealers who are
buying draft horses for consumers never
ask IL the animals is grade or a pure
bred. but look to the weight, bone sub
stance. quality, soundness an action of the
horse. If an animal possesses the requisite
qualities demanded In the foreign markets,
the breed makes but little difference with
the price. Many breeders ar practicing the
crossing of the heavy-boned, shaggy-leseed
Shire or Clydesdale stallion on heavy per-
cheron mares, and believe the progeny
comes nearer the ideal draft horse than a
pure-bred animal Of any breed
No reason whatever exists why the Tinted
states should not be great horsa-producine
renter. Today the stalls of the Midway horse
market are file with stalwart Shires bred
and reared in Iowa and Southern Minnesota
This last named state has great capacities for
the breeding Of live stock In the MATER 20
climate, purity Of air and water and prox;m-
ity to market. On the threshold of the new
era OF prosperity now opening to the farmers
Of this section. perhaps their attention NAV
appropriately be called to the opportunities
Which already present themselves for their