Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-02-18


Dear Sir:
notice with interest the growing
strength and progressivcness Of the
Middlebury Agricultural Society And
it has occurred to me that it is in a po-
sition to receive a suggestion which |
am about to make by which important
advantages might be brought to itself
and to the constituency which it is help
ing to upbuild
Breeding of Morgan horses seems to
be definitely settled as a Vermont i'm
dustry and responsibility. Mr. Batteil
splendid pioneer enthusiasm and persis-
tency has brought the nucleus for the
foundation of the future Morgan to
Vermont, to Addison County and to the
door of Middlcbuly, by the location of
the Government farm at the ncghbor-
ing town of Weybridge The meeting
held, believe, by Mr.. Evart'- instiga-
ton last fall at Woodstock GU and the
interest shown there by those who arc
active in State Fair matters bears evil
dence to the broadening foundation ON
which the work is moving Non the
Morgan right to win out rest, on bis
CONTINGENCY to be am enduring roadster,
with all the embellishments ANA accom-
plishments which geo With am ideal horse
for the specialized service. beauty
good manners good temper, etc. BUT
10 stand out over the ordinary horse hc
must travel far and fast for one day or
seven days or thirty days
Now line breeding merely to Justin
Morgan means little or nothing TO this
end
There must be tests of individuals
which excel in the qualities aimed at
and these individuals be made the
founders Of progressive quality in the
breed.
The Holstein Association is not con
tent with passing, ON milk producing
blood which has existed mainly for
dairy purposes for 1000 years, but they
carry an advanced registry in which is
preserved, after vigorous tests; the
records of the great milk producing and
butter fat yielding individuals of their
breed, but the wise breeder of these
cattle is able to select for breeding
stock in which for generations he knows
each individual COW has at maturity,
yielded 20, 600 pounds or more milk in a
period of lactaton.
My suggestion is this that the Mid
dlebury Agricultural society establish a
Futurty purse-open to Morgan horses
that it be substantial in amount, and
contested for under conditions amply
safeguarded and worked out in coopera-
ton with the government authorities.
The aim of this Futurity should be to
provide an exhaustion road test of Nor
gan horses, extending over two or three
hundred miles and including all kinds OF
country. 1t could be free feature anC
end at the grand stand, on the fan
grounds, at an appointed time during
the continuance of the fair, the last few
miles to be driven over the race track
possibly 10 give the visitors chance Il
see the contestants, and at the finish
judges determine the winner on the
condition which is shown and in view OF
all the terms set forth as governing the
competition.
In few years this plan should moi
only provide a competition of much
interest locally, but it would quickly
mark the stallion whose get were en-
lowed with qualities of true service
and shortly would lead to line of horse.
unique in America, and which could be
ntelligently bought and intelligentlN
sold and for which there will always b,
available high prices.
PHILIP b. ST EwART.
Colorado Spring, Col.