Semi-weekly herald., 1915-04-08


charge. Much freighting is done in
this way, and, all the vegetable and
flower carts are drawn in this man.
ner. The distribution Of milk in cans
on trucks is invariably the work of
dogs. They are we'll fed, well cared
for and they attend to their own bust
ness. When the man or woman stops
the truck the doe or dogs underneath
improve the occasion to take rest.
No Expensive CANNES.
Dogs are not expensive; they re-
quire no large barns nor expensive
buildings. They are usually well
cared for and they are certainly use
full. They assist in the general econ
omic life of the people and they are
also made use of in war. This latter
refers to the large breed of dogs,
which draw light batteries of rapid
fire guns.
When the United States Is peopled
as the old work is, If the dog is then
on earth he will be welcome men,
ber of the working force on the farm.
These dogs do not whine, nor have
heard one growl or manifest an ugly
disposition. have never been par
ticular lover of dogs, but / must ad-
mire the animals used in these two
wonderful countries known as Bel
gium and Holland.
Dog carts and hand industries seem
naturally enough to go with canals
and barges. Canals and barges mean
economy; they mean saving in over
head expenses, and this same thing
applies to dogs.
The people of the United States
have been annually importing horses
from Belgium to the amount OF about
seven millions of dollars. would take
this to be low estimate, yet l was
told by Belgian horse breeder that
the states annually took seven thou
sand stations and mares from Bel
GUM.
| presume there are more Belgian
horses in Iowa than there are in Bel
gium, for the reason that for many
years Iowa has been large importer
of Belgian horses.
Breeds of Belgian Horses.
There are only two breeds Of Bel
gian horses now, whereas formerly
there were three.
The Flemish horse, once very popu-
| lar, was a larpe animal, but he lack
ed endurance; his feet would give out
and his body seemed to be too heavy
for his feet. A veterinarian tells me
that the real test of horse is his
feet The Flemish horses legs were
not strong enough. He was a hand
some animal and great show horse.
/ presume some of these horses may
have been imported into Iowa.
The Belgian horse most popular at
the present time is the Brabant, which
evidently takes its name from the
Pe.gian province of that name. The
Brabant stallion scales somewhere
abcut 2,400 or 2,700 pounds.
i The Brabant stock is healthy, the
colts being allowed to run about from
April to October, both day and night;
they are thus not pampered in any
way. Farmers as a rule keep their
own stations.
i The government has encouraged
the horse breeding enterprise by lib
era! premiums, as well as in other di-
rections. The Brabant horse repre-
sents no cross-breeding but careful
breeding by individual selection. No
one knows the original of the Belgian
horse-he seems to have existed al
ways. They are short but full Of ac-
ton and are noted for their peaceful
dispositions. They are claimed to be
less vicious than any other breed OF
horse.
i America Buys Horses.
These horses sell for large sums
and the best of them are shipped to
America. On the streets of Belgium
ard Holland these Brabant horses are
everywhere seen. The youngsters aie
put to work at about twenty months
old, and they are thus made to earn
their cost of keep at an early age.
The other Belgian horse is the Ar
denne, from the province of that
name, which is hilly and rocky and
somewhat mountainous. The Ardennt
is smaller horse and Is very popu.
lar also. having strong limbs and fee,
that will endure.
|; The German soldiers were not slow
to appreciate these Belgian horses
taking the best looking ones wherever
they found them which they impress.
ed into their government service
Thev also took a large number OF
mares which were sent to the front
and German captain showed me 20(
Belgian mares in foal which had beer
brought back frcm the front, which
he said, had been taken away no,
knowing their condition. He also stat.
ed that they had no desire to inter
fere with the permanently established
strains of Belgian horses, although
people say that hundreds of the best
stations and mares were sent to Ger
many. The Germans themselves have
been breeders of Belgian horses and
have realized their value. Horse
breeders tell me that there is no pos
lsibility Of the celebrated Belgian horse
going out of existence on account OF
the war. He is being taken care OF
So that the work of hundreds OF years
in his breeding shall not be lost.
have made inquiry as to the care OF
the Belgian horse and find that he is
not being treated as a guest but is
being taken care of about as an Iowa
farmer takes care of his horses.
Two Breeds of Horses.
The colts of fifteen months are
/ III