212 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



roadster ; and the more of a trotter he is, the more dollars he will 

 bring jou. And right here let me say, the best time in nine times 

 out of ten to sell the colt is when 3'ou are offered a fair paying price 

 for him Many a man has deceived himself with the idea that his colt 

 possessed speed sufficient to bring a sum up in the thousands, when 

 but a ver3' few hundreds would measure his full value ; and he has 

 held on, spending time and mone}' trying to develop a trotter, until 

 twice the amount for which he could have sold his colt (and made 

 it profitable, loo) would be insufficient to pay him for his time and 

 trouble, to say nothing of the vexation and disgust that has 

 mingled in his cup of disappointment. 



REARING THE COLT. 



The food for the first four moiiihs of the young colt's life is 

 supplied in large measure by its dam. It is therefore important 

 that she have an abundance of rich, succulent food, and when 

 worked, sufficient grain rations to maintain the extra draft made 

 upon her. After the colt is weaned, having already learned to eat 

 oats and drink skim milk from the creamer, he should be kept in a 

 thriving condition until he has fully matured. 



There is an old Dutch saying that "the breed goes in at the 

 mouth," which, though not altogether true, 3'et it shows the potent 

 influence exerted b3' food in perfecting the forms of domestic ani- 

 mals. Such food and in such quantity as will maintain a natural, 

 healthy growth without producing a preponderance of fat should be 

 supplied. Fat is not wanted in the growing colt but bone, sub- 

 stance, form. Sweet skim milk is an excellent food for growing 

 colts, and I am of the opinion that it can be fed to no kind of stock 

 to better advantage. I have never seen any but good results from 

 feeding it. Colts like it exceedingly, and thrive upon it remarkably 

 well. The dairy farmer can raise colts to good advantage. 



The education of the colt should commence the first day of 

 his life. Handle him, hold him. Show him at the first that you 

 are his friend and his master, and he will soon learn to trust and 

 obey you. Kind but firm treatment during colthood makes the 

 kind and reliable horse. 



TUE MARKET. 



There are certain Maine products that rank with those of any 

 other State of the Union, and Maine horses is one of them. In 

 some particulars they excel, and are superior to the horses of any 



