Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-16
Eucnina Session.

was the lecture Raising Draft Horses
in Maine" by George NJ. Rommal,
chief OF the division of animal nus
i,and.y OF the United states depart
ment OF agriculture. Following is an
abstract:
The development of railroads, trolley
lines bicycles. automobiles. aeroplanes
AID the like las not reduced the price
Of horses. in spite Of the increase in
the number Of horses in the country
Mechanical traction has not been
founi satisfactory by either business
man or farmer for use under al con-
dtions The automobile is being used
by business houses for long distanc"
deliveries. and the farmer now uses
heavier mares for his farm work. Those
who best know business conditions and
horse breeding do not believe the horse
viii ever lose his position no matter
to what extent mechanical means may
be employed to carry people about or
t. transport their goods.
| The automobile and horse each has
| an assured place in our economy. The
former for pleasure. quick transporta-
, t,nn md long distance delivery work In
! cities: the latter for pleasure also. for
driving over rough and billy roads. for
! The army. for farm work and Snort
distance heavy hauling.
Broadly speaking. the proper place
| ~ the horse on the farm is to supply
! tie motive power needed in farming
| oDeraticnS, to enable the farmer to get
! lis products to market and to fill the
! the demand OF the cities for horses for
! work and pleasure.
| Because of the sharp differentiation
in market classes Of horses and dis
! crin!ination in market requirements.
! the horse situate on the farm is very
| clearly defined The market lines are
| sharply drawn between a draft horse
and light horse and the farmer can
not afford to ignore the market IN
making his selection. A horse will not
| be considered a drafter unless he
weighs 1900 pounds. on the other hand.
| horse weighing over 1900 pounds is
nat usually classed as a light horse.
The classes between 200 and 1909
pounds are generally designated as
! ''cilUilHs.' some of the best of them be-
| ing called "expressers." Experience has
| demonstrated that it does not pay to
creed a misfit BY design. IT follows.
therefore. that the farmer must breed
either a good draft horse or a good
} light horse. and that he cannot afford
to mix the two types.
The first essential for draft horses
| raising is fairly level country. Next
| in Importance comes abundance OF
| feed. with strong pastures and good
| supply Of forage and grain for winter
| use The soil should be strong prefer
ahlv clay underlaid with limestone, al
| though the question Of 4 suitable soil
| is not so important with draft horses
as with light horses.
| 4 Graft colt must be kept growing
| f, m the start: size and weight more
! than anything else are what make a
Grafter salablc. The Maine farmer who
makes the most money on his draft
| cots will be the one who can best
econOmizc his rations
| :fter the end of his second winter a
draft colt begins to earn his way; af-
t,r he is two wears old he will easily
| PAY for himself if properly handled.
| Under the most Favorable conditions.
| with frSt-clasS barns and fences. a
| watrr supply and all necessary veter-
! mary ate ndarcH. the maximum cost
| of raising draft colt TO this age will
| h" about 500 II tho farmer is thrifty
| ard rather Skllful in caring for ami
! mails and has some knowledge Of vet
| crinary science. the cost may he re-
| drcod to about 500. without in any
| way jcssenine the amount of feed Civ
en- tho COLI. This estimate can be still
| further reduced by taking into consid-
c"ation the conditions on the average
/ far W 10
inrs is not excessive. where perhaps
| the fences are ret the VERY best and
where pastur" land may be cheaply
| procured. Bearing these matters in
mind it is well within reason TO esti-
| mate $50 rs the lowest possible cosl
Of producing a 2-vear-old draft colt in
| Maine. with rlentv OF good feed from
! tho tim" that he is old enough to eat.
| it is SAT" to say that the cost Of the
| average draft colt on a Maine farm
snouid not exceed 5000 up to the end
of his seccrd winter. when he is ready
| - earn his own Wav
! He can be used for light farm work
and tho following year he may be put
| into the pillow. II properly grown out
rom this tim" ON. such a colt will be
| come the kind Of horse which is now
selling in Maine for from $500 e. 500.
| Various points ON the breeding Of
| draft horses are given in the article
| and suggestions are made as to tho
| prouer method of procuring stations
| for breeding purposes in sections where
! they arc not available. There is also
t brief discussion of points to be observ-
| ed in breeding and educating the draft
| colt