Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1912 — HORSES ON FARMM AND THEIR COST [ARTICLE]

HORSES ON FARMM AND THEIR COST

Almost Suppttiht Human Labor—Their Efficiency Import ant AT PRESENT THE horse is practically the entire motive power of the farm. In- combination with improved farm machinery, the horse has. to a. great extent.- replaced human “labor. And the modern farm depends as much upon the efficiency of the horse that is kept to perform the labor as It does upon the use of the human labor upon the farm. In fact, the efficiency of human labor upon the farm, and in many Instances the proper operation’ -of the farm, depends entirely upon the farm horße, We may readily understand therefore, that the farm horse is often the greatest single factor in the success of the farming operations. It is essential, then, that the farm horse be so cared for, and the farm so organized, that a maximum return on the horde’s labor can be secured annually. It is true that horse owners gen-' erally are not accustomed to look upon the horses of the farm, or their labor as costing anything. The has been -considered so much of a necessity, and so much a part of the farm, that the question of the cost of the horse labor to "the farm, or of the methods by which such cost may be decreased, has. been very largely neglected. The question of economy of power on' the farm is only brought up at those times-when consideration is being given to some other form of motive power than the horse. It is a question. Rough, that —with increasing cost of feed, of care, and larger investment in horses —will constantly become of greater and greater importance. The cost of horse labor depends upon many conditions that vary on eaph farm, so that costs are not similar on different farms. However, the items that make up cost are similar on all farms, and only vary... in amount. It is essential,then, that tue farm operator have an accurate know, ledge of what comprises cost, and what average costs are, that he mafl> institute such economies in his management as seem desirable. Carefullykept records and accounts with the. farm horse, snow' that the average cost of horse labor on the farm is about eight and one-hair cents per hour. The rate seldom averages less, and generally runs higher. This means that the actual cost, on the farm, of a horse’s labor for a tenhour day, is 85 cents, or $1.70 for a team. —Thomas P. Cooper.