Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-05-30

MODERN CL4DGSDALE.
the scale of values attaching to it hap
pened to be rather low. At no time
even in the dullest Of these darkest
days was the price to be obtained for
good draft horses below the cost of pro-
duction, and that is somewhat more
than can be said for any other kind of
horse that is sold on the general mar
ket. The recital of this fact is all that
is necessary to show that a profit may
always be made if the right sort of
draft horse is bred.
For more than a year many farmers
have been hustling here and there try
ing to buy work horses. Those who
began early enough succeeded and OBJ
tanned what they wanted at moderate
cost. Many of those who put it off till
this year have contented themselves
with something that would work."
Incidentally let it be said that there
never was poorer economy than to buy
an inferior mare, horse or gelding sim
ply because it was the nearest at hand
at the time wanted or because it look
ed cheap. Inferior horses are never
dealt with later.
A sample of wisdom in the purchase
of mares may be given thus: A year
before he died the late Mark Durham
of Oaklawn told a farmer in the hear
ing of the writer to go out and buy
three big mares with foal if he could
get them, but to buy them anyway.
TIL. Al.
mares, none of them less than three
quarters bred. were purchased at net
cost of $420. Only one was in foal
This was in 1898, and all three had
foals in 1899. To our certain knowl-
edge this farmer could at the present
moment take for the three mares, the
one 3-year.old, three 2-year-olds and
two yearlings, very close to $500, if
not quite that sum. and at forced sale
at that. The oldest of the mares is
Just 10, the next one is 8. and the youn-
gest is I. The smallest weighs not
quite 1000 pounds. and the two that
are older weigh about 5000 the pair.
They are all in foal at this moment and
in fine, thrifty shape, working every
day on a gang plow or at other heavy
farm work.
AS stated, only one of these mares
was in foal when they were bought
under Mr.. Dunham's advice. The FLY
that came in 1898 is now 3-year-cld
and weighs perhaps 1,600 pounds The
spring of 1899 each one of these mares
had a foal, two Of them FLIES, one
olds, got by q very weighty horse and
promising to make well up toward the
ton in weight. What are the three
worth? In 1900 only two of the mares
had foals, both of them colts, the third
mare missing. This season all will
have foals. At the most moderate con-
putation the yearlings would bring
$3.50 for the pair. the 2-year-olds $3.50
for the three, the 3-year-old $175, and
that is exactly 1915. What would the
three big mares, all heavy in foal. fat
and rugged, bring?
Now where can a farmer make a
more satisfactory investment? 1t must
be remembered that these three brood
mares have earned their keeping ever
since bought and the 3-year-old mare
has been broken and this season will
do her share Of the work, in that way
earning her oats and hay. This spring
also she will be bred and in all proba-
hility will have q fine foal next year.
She has three crosses of registered
blood. Her foal, when it comes. will
have four The following year the two
2-year-oIds will come on to be broken
and bred, and then this wise farmer
will, If be has no bad luck, be provided
with six brood mares. the Oldest II. the
youngest s. The original purchase was
made in 1898. In 1892, or in just four
years from that time. the breeding herd
win have doubled itself and the sur
plus be amply sufficient TO wipe out
prime cost. interest and all. and leave
a little something as interest on the
money invested.
This story is told to show how great
are the possibilities in horse breeding
IL it is gone about properly.
The supply of mares is not nearly
large enough TO go around. That does
rot matter SO much. Fer s.,ere ARE yet
many farmers who declare that il does
not pay 10 breed horses and 50 fer as
they are concerned their statrmepf is
true. for they do not and will Eot rec
ognize the value of improved blood.