Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-01-29

as any other branch of their business
Some one must grow the horses for
city and commercial use, and no one is
Letter prepared to do it. so far as feed
and surroundings are concerned, than
the farmer.
Under most conditions farmers can
not afford to lose sight of the profits
70 be made from this source.
On most farms few colts can be,
grown each year cheaply and with but
little trouble. This enables one to dis
pose of the older horses and thus keep
young stock, which will be increasing
in value. Geldings should never be
kept beyond salable age, as mares
will be just as serviceable and at the
same time produce colt worth $50 %
S10O
When we take into account the
profits to be gained by such a metno'!
and the demands of the market We
will doubtless be led to the conclusion
that a farmer cannot afford to producs
the horse exactly suited to farm work
The press is full of discussions on the
farm horse and how to breed him.
Some recommend one. some another.
but most of all lose sight of the market
value of the animal. Formerly what
is known as a general purpose horse
was commonly found on the farm and
there are those now who advocate
such.
The market, however, does not
recognize any such class and when
they go there they are Il cheap, un-
classed horse. For this reason, of no
other. they would be Improbable for
farmers. There is, however another
consideration of more Importance
Modern agriculture is carried on by
the use of heavy implements. such as
the binder, gang plOw, manure
spreader, and others. These require
great deal of power and consequently
a heavier horse than our fathers used.
Market horses may be divided into
two main classes: Those for draft pur-
poses. such as heavy draft, bus. e&-
press, etc. harness and saddle horses
which includes drivers, coachers, and
saddlers
The heavy draft horse must have
weight and strength. 1t is not 50
much a question Of height as weight.
A strictly first class draft horse must
weigh 1900 pounds or more. The
value. They must have good feet. legs.
plenty of bone. and quality, and where
these are combined with good style and
action they command the highest
market price. The bus and express are
of lighter weight and not SO strongly
built smoother, and have better action.
They should not be thought of as small
draft horses as they are entirely dis
tinct and different.
A description of harness and saddle
horses is scarcely necessary in this
discussion. as / consider them alto
gether too light for farm work. More
over. the average farmer cannot put
them on the market profitably. The
per cent of high grade roadsters.
drivers, and coachers produced from
common mares is small and uncertain.
The demand for these is poor.
A study Of the market shows that a
large per cent of the horses that go
there are light and unclassed, and as a
rule these are cheap and plentiful. On
the other hand horses OF the draft
types. and particularly the heavy draft.
find ready sale at good to high prices.
There has been no time during the last
decade when a first class heavy drafter
would not sell at profit to the pro-
ducer. Such horses are demanded by
at high prices. In the
markets today they will range in price |
from $3.50 to $500. depending on' the
size and quality. Everything consid /
cred. this type of horse will be most .
profitable for farmers. Some think the
light horse, such as used for bus and
express purposes, better adapted to