Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-22
PERCHERONS IN THE SOUTH

types of which the Percheron is the most
favorably known. In good many COM
munities grade Percheron mares were
purchased and brought in from various
western states and a stallion secured at
a reasonable cost. and the production of
draft animals undertaken in a rational
and successful manner More recently,
a considerable number Of purebred mares
have been introduced. and the industry
seems no VITO have passed through the
initial stages and promises to become a
factor of some Importance in molding
the practice on southern farms and in
increasing the interest in animal hus-
bandry now so strongly. evidenced
throughout the south. Just as soon as
people recognize the stability of the
draft animal for work purposes and come
to appreciate the care and attention
which this class of animals should re-
ceive. there is bound to be a boom in
the breeding of horses of this type for
the supply is quite inadequate to meet
the existing needs, and this is bound to
be true for some years to come.
The southern land owner is beginning
To realize that if he can keep grade or
purebred draft mares on his farm and
work them to a reasonable degree, he
has an asset of great Importance. He
can, of course, raise mule colts if he de-
sires TO do so, but the chances are that
for many years to come he will find it
more profitable to raise horses. He can
count on considerable part of the prog
eny being mares and they should be kept
for the increase of his stud, while stall
lion colts of the right type can be sold
TO very good advantage in the outlying
communities. Whenever a reasonable
number OF mares are kept on a farm, the
question of maintaining the supply of
work stock will be solved with great
economy and advantage as Well.
While of course, there are other
breeds of draft horses adapted 10 the
south, the Percheron is now quite widely
disseminated and favorably known and
promises to increase in popularity as the
years go by. That this class of stock
can be maintained successfully under
good management is now admitted By all
who have had experience with them. The
south is quite capable of producing that
variety of roughage essential to their
satisfactory upkeep. Moreover, large
quantities Of corn are being raised every
year and there will be a steady increase
in the production of cereals for many
years to come. There is. of course. OBJ
lection to the feeding of corn alone.
based on the idea that it is deficient
IN ash and protein. This condition can
easily be offset, however, by adding two
pounds of cotton seed meal to - to IA
pounds OF corn or corn and cob meal
When grain ration of this kind is fed
with properly made and preserved sor-
ghum fodder, shredded corn slower, Bcr-
muda and Japan clover hay, crimson
clover, alfalfa, cOwpeas. vetch and oats
or vetch and wheat sudan or even John
son grass hay, a palatable and sufficient
" varied ration as TO both concentrates
and roughness has been provided at a
reasonable cost. We know this to be
true because Percheron horses, of both
grade and pure red types, have been
successfully maintained on the college
farm at Athens for some years past
Under conditions not dissimilar to those
which obtain on many hundreds of south
ern farms
Experience on the college farm there
fore leads to these conclusions: That the
Percheron as a draft type is admirably
adapted to the south: that both grades
and pure breds can be maintained sue
cessfully; that there is an abundance of
foods available for the proper nutrition
OF animals of this type; that they will
perform excellently / nthe collar and for
all practical purposes will take the pace
OF the mule; that by reason of their
greater draft they can pull and oper.
ate heavy types of machinery with great
CT ease ana advantage Inan nRnter AMI
mails; that their supposed clumsiness
and awkwardness is not a detriment to
their use in the south as has been so
long held; that they take kindly to the
climate. and while performing a large
amount of work will still carry and
mature foals which will sell quite readily
at good prices. thereby making their
maintenance on the average plantation
a great desideratum.
With the advent of the draft type OF
horse agriculture in the south is bound
to receive a new impetus and a very con-
siderable number of the live stock needed
on southern farms will in the future be
grown at home. Moreover, the founda-
tion stock will be obtained from which
to secure the draft type of mule which
is now gradually replacing the lighter
type so long held in favor. II seems,
therefore that the outlook for the draft
horse breeding industry in the south Of
fers fine encouragement and attraction to
the man who loves animals and will
study their needs and adaptability, aud
handle them with that degree of skill
which the attainment of success in any
business requires.