The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-24
HORSES SUITABLE
. FOR THE FARMER
Countryman's Views of What
Countryman Needs in Way
OF Work Horses.
MACS THAT MUST PULL PLOWs
Horses to Do All Kinds of Work
on Virginia Farms-Here
and There.
MACS THAT MUST PULL PLOWS
BY j. NJ. BELL.

The season has arrived when the
farmer (who is at the Same time a
horse hreedcr) should consider we'll
the choice of a stallion.
The writer. with all due modesty, If
of the opinion that the heavy draft
horse is not entirely suitable to the
needs of the ma Jority of Southern
farms
Let us stop for a moment and con-
slider. The big drafter ranges In
weight anywhere from 1000 to 1000
pounds, more or less, sometimes more
A horse of this typo Is magnificent
example of sturdy and honest strength
He is Invaluable when used as a pro.
Pellor for heavy loads OIL either city
or county roads He Is the highest
priced horse, on the whole. in the
markets to-day. and he Will continue
10 be n high priced commodity.
The 1.2O0-Pound Horse.
The animal of this type and weight
makes much more desirable one for
the majority of Southern farmers than
the heavy drafter. The reason for
this Is not hard TO find In the mrs,
place, this horse is much better suited
TO diversified farm work. II | NAV use
the term. Take. for instance. a farm.
or who only uses pair OF horses (and
there are many of them in the SOUTH
Fhis span of horses is expected 10 do
regular farm work, year in and year
out; also there are times when they
Will be required to perform the Ser.
vice Of carriage and saddle horses not
often. perhaps but still in the course
of year a sufficient number of times
to prove that horses OF their weight
and conformation can, on occasions
make fair showing i'll light harness
Or under the saddle.
1t is to the majority of Southern
farmers who only keep limited mum
Der Of horses that the writer adylccs
the use of medium weight animals. On
the very large plantations mules are
used for work and horses for pleasure
This has been the custom so long that
like the common law. THE memory of
man runneth not to the contrary"
The pleasure horses or the Southern
farms have always been Of good blood
numbers of them being thoroughbred
and possessing both beauty ana speed
With the changes that are taking
place, small farms will no doubt be
the general rule in Dixie Land" from
now on. for II is apparent that the day
Is not far distant when plantation life.
as II once was. will be a thing Of the
past.
The small farmer viii work from
two TO four head OF teams. his children
VIII not be satisfied 10 drive the long
cared, shave-tailed mule to church or
to sociables, Neither will they care to
ride or drive tho mountainous. heavy
legged, numbering draftsr. Tho ordin
airy farm In these days Will not support
horses kept exclusively for pleasure,
and still the young folks in the coun-
try must have some fun, and OF tho
sort that means a certain amount OF
riding and driving 10 obtain it.
The horse OF medium size will Mi
the bill. either for WORK or for pleas
ure purposes--in other words, ia the
general service horse. handy before the
pillow, carriage or under the saddle.
Heavy enough for all farm work, he
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