Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1907 — CARRIAGE HORSES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CARRIAGE HORSES.

Development of the American Type Rests Largely With Farmers. Since the inauguration of work for the development from American material of a carriage horse which would breed true to type has come a movement to establish classes for such horses at the national and state fairs. The sentiment for this has grown rapidly during the past year, and such classes have been added to the premium lists of fairs in lowa and Kentucky, states from which large numbers of American carriage horses are marketed. On their own initiative the lowa state fair held at Des Moines, the Kentucky state fair at Louisville and the Blue Grass fair at Lexington, Ky., have offered prizes for American carriage horses for the season of 1907. A uniform classification has been made possible -by a co-operative arrangement between the national bureau of animal industry and the American Association of Trotting Horse Breeders. The classification was worked out by the committee on heavy harness horses of the association. A cordial reception of the classiflcation by the horse press and managers of fairs is reported. Among the earliest to adopt the classification for 1907 were the interstate fair held in Kansas City and the Kansas state fair held in Hutchinson. Farmers Breed the Carriage Horses. The adoption of the classification by state fairs is especially urged by those interested in it for the reason that the state fairs are in the closest touch with farmers, that the farmers ace the breeders of most of the carriage horses sold on the American markets and that the value of the American horse for carriage purposes is rarely appreciated by the fanners who breed them. Hundreds of horses are sold annually by farmers at really insignificant prices which after some months of finishing and handling are sold as carnage horses at prices up into the thousands. Furthermore, there is a continual sale of stallions to supply this trade. These horses are usually of only moderate value as speed producers, but are of excellent carriage type. If kept entire and properly mated they could be of inestimable value as foundation sires of the American carriage horse. When the farmers appreciate the intrinsic value of the native light horse for carriage purposes and recognize the worth of the stallion with good conformation and quality, but only moderate speed, as a sire of carriage horses the problem of fixing the type will be one of early solution. Keeping Hogs In Bounds. An easy plan of keeping hogs from going from hog pastures to cow pastures and at the same time allowing

the cattle to go from one pasture to the other at will is credited by an exchange to a writer in the Farmer. As shown in the sketch, the opening in the fence may be as wide as desired. Two by twelve inch plank are nailed to the fence posts about four or six inches from the ground, and two extra posts are set out from the fence about a foot. The plank is nailed to the inside of these posts, and this plank should be about four feet longer than the one fastened to the fence so as to go by the opening at each end about two feet. The hogs cannot jump the two planks, and small hogs that go between them cannot jump over, as they are lengthwise of the opening. The cattle will readily step over. The same plan may be used for sheep, only three planks may be necessary to retain them, although the writer uses only two for them also.

CATTLE STILE.