Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-26


available IN any community determines
the efficiency and the success OF its ag-
ricultural practice The inventions OF the
present day and generation render il
Tar easier 70 cultivate land by machinery
than was possible decade ago. With
the advent Of improved machinery. how
ever. has come the necessity OF increased
size and weight In the animals which
are 70 operate IL because OF the Increased
draft which accompanies its use and the
more effective stirring and pCiverization
OF the soil which Il permits. plentiful
supply Of animal motive power on the
farm becomes essential therefore, TO sue
cess in this day and generation That
Georgia Is vitality interested in this prob
lem all realize who have studied her agri-
cultural development. and that she Is at
the present time depending almost exclu-
sfvely on outside sources for her motive
power Is shown BY the fact that some
S12.oooooQ Is paid out annually for work
stock. Apparently several trainloads Of
horses and mules are imported into the
state each year. In fact. allowing sd
per individual animal as a purchase price
about 5000 animals are brought IN 20
work on our farms and plantations each
year One would naturally suppose II
this be true that the state were not
adapted for the production OF horses and
quality 10 those that might be- produced
here az home are being produced. Neither
one OF these conclusions happens TO be
correct. for. as a matter 80 fact. local
conditions are as well adapted for the
production OF horses and mules In Geor-
gia as in many OF the states from which
these animals are secured II really con-
stitutes a neglected industry and one
which mas remained undeveloped proba-
bly, because OF the high price prevailing
for cotton. and the belief that more
money can be made from the cultivation
OF this staple than IN any other way.
Probably a great many farmers viii
continue TO make more money out Of
cotton than out OF other lines OF agricul-
tural practice. and particularly. live stock
farming: but there is a very considerable
percentage who might engage in the
breeding and handling OF horses and
mules with success and profit beyond
what they can hope to secure from the
cultivation OF cotton A specific example
OF the possibilities OF this business is
certainly well worth consideration at this
time AS a matter OF fact. high-grade
Percheron mares can be purchased in the
middle west and laid down in Georgia
at a cost OF $50 per head or 500 for a
team This is about what would be paid
for q good team OF mules In fact, there
are many farmers who have paid higher
figures than are here indicated II should
be remembered, however, that a team
such as has been suggested should weigh
between 1900 and 800 pounds. and would
represent animals four 10 six years OF
age In other words. they would be
typical draft animals. living the weight,
bone and conformation characteristics OF
the draft breeds. They would also be in
their prime, and therefore serviceable un-
der ordinary circumstances as breeding
animals for period Of eight to ten years
II Is probably true that some so-called
draft animals can be purchased at a low
er price than that suggested. but ii
should never be forgotten than animals
weighing loo or 100 pounds are not OF
the draft type, and but little Improvement
over the mares already owned on many
OF our farms, and which when mated
with a jack produce the little. light
honed mule of comparatively little service
in soil preparation. 10 produce the big
boned 90 pound mule which must be the
standard OF the plantation owner in view
OF the changing conditions which he has
TO meet will call for the use of the stand
ard draft mare as a dam and jack OF
unusual bone and quality as a sire. These
are fundamental facts tht must never be
lost sight OF for one minute. or else the
man who expects 70 engage in the breed
ing OF horses ard mules viii have really
failed before he has started his enter
prise. II Is the disregard of essential
facts such as have been indicated on the
part OF many who have attempted the
horse and mule breeding business that
has brought destruction on the origina-
tor OF the enterprise and has given the
business such bad reputation in the
state
While the breeding OF mules win be I
desirable business and IL is quite eviden
that there is a good demand for goo,
animals at highly remunerative prices
stili. for some years TO come. il will b
very profitable TO breed draft mares d
be used as the foundation stock for tn
production Of the type OF mule indicates
above This. OF course. win call for tn
importation into the state not only o
good draft mares. but for considerable
number OF high-grade Percheron staI
lions. II these are bought as yearlings
OF 2-year-olds. they can be secured at
reasonable figure. and IL properly fed an.
handled win mature as well in Georges
as elsewhere. In other words. II is IN
necessary 10 pay anywhere from $500 Z
5000 10 secure a good sire. and thos
who pay such fancy figures are not ex
ercising good judgment
The question arises in the minds o
many as TO whether horse breeding ma,
be made a profitable business. The far
mer who invests SEQ in a pair of mare
OF the type suggested should be able Z
raise from each OF them at least six o
eight colts. These colts as yearling
4hould be worth SO apiece; as 2-year
dds. SIS: as 3-year-olds. 500, and as 4
vear-olds $50. These prices are moder
ate and below what the market IRE
ouently commands. yet IL Is seen that tn
progeny OF each mare in four years 1