The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-02-04

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the value of stock judging!
"Take il as it refers TO horses"
DE-. Burkett said to us. GA horse is
beautiful, graceful, pretty and
efficient because of his make up
or conformation. The students be-
come proficient in knowledge of the
conformation of the horse, by sets of
measurements and scoring and judg'
ing. In this work they make sew
eral thousand measurements and
soon train the eye TO measure pro
portions and the angles of muscular
movement. They find that a road
ster has a long and sloping shoulder,
Group an inch higher than point at
withers from the ground; that the
height of a hol Sc of good conforma-
ton equals it's length from point OF
shoulder to outlook; that the width
of the forehead is one-third the
length of head from poll to bit that
length of shoulders equals this
measurement. They study the
angles for grace and ease of move
ment the angle at front pastern be-
ing about As degrees, this giving
lightness of foot and freedom from
disease in the foot, etc. After such'
training the students not only 'know
the horse but they are able to select
the best horse and determine at a
rapid examination his relative cOm-
mercial value in the service in which
he is TO be employed and are also
able to estimate the amount and
duration of the effects which his
machinery is capable of producing.
In the same way the type of the
dairy and beef COWS r studied, as
we'll as those of sheep and swine"
The actual work of making the
crops is also done here. Before the
seed are put in the ground, for in
stance, there are the termination
tests. A little matter you doubtless
think, hut when you consider the
vexing work Of re- planting with
which every farmer contends every
spring, you will agree with DIR. Bur
kett that hundreds of thousands Of
dollars could be saved annually by
the general use of these simple tests
TO ascertain the purity of our seed
corn and seed cotton.
A laboratory for the study of soils
will soon be in use The drainage of
soils, their porosity, the effect of
mulches, etc., etc.,-the theory and
practice of eaoh-wiIl be learned by
the student.
Here, too, he will become familiar
with the best and most improved
farm maohinery-with their work in
the field, how to take them apart
and put together again.
This mention of farm implements
and machinery brings us to another
very important matter. Heretofore
the shop work of the agricultural
students has been the same as that
given other students the shop work
outlined for the boy who expected
so enter q maohins shop Or a cotton
mill has been given without varia.
ton TO the boy preparing to farm.
A wise change in this respect is now
being arranged for. Instead of cab
met work or general machine work,
the agricultural students will here
after have training that will be of
practical value to them. Their time
in the shop will be given to instruc-
ton in making and mending farm
tools, horse shoeing, repairing wag-
ons or harness, planning farm build
ings, etc.
Better equipment for the Agricul-
t1ral Department is sorely needed,
and will be secured as rapidly as
possible. For one thing, cheese
making apparatus is needed. The
industry is easily learned, and North
Carolina ought to make all the
cheese she USES. Another want is a
veterinary ~dissecting room for the
study of stock diseases.
But we shall not talk further of
equipment needed by the Agricul
tural Department of the College.
First of all, it needs a building in
which to put the equipment when it
gets it. To one who has the welfare
of agricultural education at heart, it
is h~umiliating to think of the n