Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1902 — PROGRESS IN THE BREEDING OF THE HORSE. [ARTICLE]

PROGRESS IN THE BREEDING OF THE HORSE.

Great progress is being made in the breeding up and improving tn our stock of horses. The farmer is making his best effort in this branch, realizing that crossing his mares with the best stallion he can find'is a paying Investment. He is also more careful in breeding his mares in the class they belong, thus producing a horse which has a certain inarket class. The middle states are the great leaders in the production of horses and are the first to substantially appreciate a high class stallion, knowing the return value of such an investment, and they accordingly are first to reap the reward. The market demand for good horses can not be Supplied and now that we have a steady and reliable foreign trade for our horses there need be no fear of an overproduction. The wars have taken out an enormous number of horses which j were undesirable for home use, leaving their places to be filled with a much better class of animal which can not but materially benefit the horse In general. Every year we find our customers more exacting In the qualities of the stallions, price seeming to make little difference as long as the Individual and breeding are there, and at no time have I found in thlrtv years' experience the demand so great as now for a high class horse. The three classes of horses which today are most in demand, therefore the more profitable to raise, are the trotter, the draft (either Percheron or Belgian) and the German coach. The latter horse is just commencing to receive his reward, having been Introduced but some fifteen years, and while it has taken some time, a great deal of hard work and toll to establish this horse, he is now in the front rank as a producer and I firmly believe Is the coming horse of America for all purposes suitably for the farmer, and brings the high price in the market for carriage and coach.

J. CROUCH.