Year: 1869

Jmproyement of Southern Horse stock.


A few days ago we alluded in general
terms to the necessity of using every effort
to improve the stock of horses. We deem
this subject, one of the greatest Importance,
and one which should command the atten-
tien of those who have charge Of our Fairs
and Agricultural Societies.


The scarcity of good horses in the South
has become subject Of general remark, not
only by those who visit the South, but by
our own people Look where we will we
cannot find one horse in thousand that Is
more than an average, and the majority OF
them are far below the average. n


This is the more strange as there is no
part of the United States in which the horse
is SO generally used as it is in the South.
The distance between plantations and be-
tween towns is such that almost every man
keeps one or more horses, and in addition
mules to do the regular work. 81


1t is an old saying, 1t costs no more
to keep good horse than a bad horse"
and it is true. We even think that it is
chsoper, for bad horse cannot do the same
amount of work on the same amount OF
feed and care as can be done by a good
horse. Is ll '-f -81


Those who control the Agricultural Soci-
cites and who have the management OF Fairs
should do as much or more to secure the
Improvement of our stock Of horses as Tor
any other matter pertaining to agriculture.
Stock raising has always been one OF the
most profitable of all pursuits, and one in
which the return of capital invested is surer
and larger than in almost anything else.


The only difference in the cost of obtain
inc good and bad horses is the price OF the
service of the stallion. 1t costs no more to
raise thousand dollar horse than it does to
raise fifty dollar horse, while the price OF
service may be only twenty or thirty dollars
higher. ,s ga 7sa ga. a,sli bE.a


We have seen many o colt, and yearlinggs
at that sold for thousand dollars simply
because it showed evidences of possessing
the good qualities of the sire. Upon these
colts the owners make from seven hundred
and fifty to eight hundred dollars within
two years time. These cases are by no means
uncommon, but on the contrary happen
every day.


Those men who have the enterprise to first
secure good blooded, good gated and
generally fine stock-horse in this State will
reap large fortune, and we shall be glad tc
see them getit for they will deserve it.


We wish to suggest to those who have the
ordering ofpremiums, prizes &C., for oul
fairs that in none of the lists we have seen has
the horse been given that prominence tc
which he is entitled as the most useful and
profitable of all domestic animals.


We wish to see good purses offered fol
trials of speed between North Carolina
horses-both trotting and running.


We are aware that many people object te

racing because money is bet upon the result
by outside parties; but gambling is thing
which can be done upon anything, ever
upon the best and most godly matters. II
would be equally as wise to urge that there
should be no elections, because men would
bet upon the results. So VIC suggest to thu
Agricultural Societies that prizes be offered
to the best trotting and running horses thai
our people may be induced to do all in thei
power to raise better horses and more o
them. ....


Let sufficient inducements be offered tt
arouse our people to the importance of thi
subject, and you have taken the sures'
means of gaining the desired object.


We hope that our brethren of the pres:
throughout the State, will lend their infu
ence, each according to his own judgment
towards awakening the people to the neces
sity of improving the horse stock of Nortl
Carolina.