The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-03-30


can not help but take the opposite
view. II is true that there are Few
or horses of the higher type in Ken
tucky than has been knswn i'll many
years. but this is q situation that can
and will be remembered aud one that
is not fraught with the dangers of an
oyercrowded market. There is also
a great scarcity of general utility
horses. but when we take into con-
sideration the fact that during the
past two years over a million horses
and mules have been exported to the
war zone, there is no room left toT
speculation as to the cause OF the
shortage.
The advent OF the automobile has,
naturally, cut some figure in the
horse industry and, we regret to say.
has caused encouragement to be
written on the countenances of some
of our breeders. But we are CON
WINGED that this is the result OF
state of mind rather than of logical
conclusion. No sane man believes
that the horse will ever be displaced
entirely by machinery, although in
the Western countries, where large
areas are being cultivated. the farm
tractor has, at least for the present
diminished the demand for work
horses. But, like the other sections
of the country, these large tracts OF
land will one day be cut into smaller
farms and the tractor will, to say the
least. be less in demand.
Red-blooded Kentuckians will
never cease to love the saddle horse.
But to view this wonderful animal
purely as a plaything or show horse,
is an error that is made only by those
who only see such animals in the
show ring. Men are only children
who have lived little longer. 1t is
therefore no matter of wonderment
that the automobile, as a new toy
in their hands, should supplant for n
time even the companion of their
youth, but as a woman said the other
day while riding in her automobile:
This car is all right and ! enjoy
it, but l wish l had never sold my
mare"
And there are others, who, in the
course of time. will feel the same
way.
How long would even a large sup
ply of old-fashioned plantation walk
ers last were they on the market to-
day? And we are almost tempted
right here TO suggest that, in our
opinion, better results might be
forthcoming in the future if our
breeders would lean more toward the
practical type than the show horse,
but for fear we will get into deep
water we will not even hint at it.
1t is well known fact among the
breeders that the scarcity of mule
mares has reached the danger point.
AS a result jack stock is not showing
the demand it has in the past, and
the future of the mule market is en-
dangered.
What are we going to do about it?
Continue to take the pessimistic side
of the situation and wake up just in
time to find another market develop
ing that may mean hard work in the
future to hold our own? We believe
the breeders will realize that now is
the time to breed their mares to good
stations, for as sure as the monarch
les of Europe are doomed SO sure
will there be a demand during the
next few years that can not be met
unless this is done,
A writer in one of the horse papers
of the State took US to task the other
day because we published an article
written by one of our regular con-
tributors in which he dealt rather
with the matter OF placing
stations over the
State for breeding purposes. AS we
have said before. the Farmers Home
Journal publishes a great many art
icles with which we do not entirely
concur, but we feel that every man
has a right TO the expression of his
opinion and our policy is to play no
fayorites. The Farmers Home Jour
nal does not, as suggested in the
newspaper article, stand alone for
any single breed, but it stands first,
last and all the time for the general
interests OF the farmers and breeders
of the South, no matter what partic-
ular line or breed they are promot-
ing Farmers Home Journal.
Once more-are the machinery and
tho manure out in the weather? They
shouldn't be.-Southern Agricultur-
list
How to Get Crop Of Corn.
l.