1068 New York State Bkeedeks' Association 



We hear, wherever we go, this point raised as a hiudrauce to 

 farming, that it is impossible to employ labor on the farm. It is 

 true that labor is scarce, and I helieve one way we can partially 

 solve this problem is by the employment of better machinery on 

 our farms, and in that way we will eliminate largely the matter 

 of man-labor. In order to do this it calls for a larger horse, a 

 better horse, a horse that can pull these implements and pull them 

 to advantage. Let us see how it is when we employ a little horse, 

 largely driving blood ; that horse, in order to do that work, has to 

 work on his nerve day by day. It means simply that you have 

 to train him, and that there is a great danger ahead ; he would 

 not last nearly so long as though he were a heavier horse 

 and could pull that load by his weight. I want to make a plea 

 this afternoon for the heavier horse on the farm, a horse that 

 will do your work decidedly more economically. Then you will 

 not only have a horse that will do your work better, do it cheaper 

 on the farm with a great deal less risk, but you will have a horse 

 that you can sell in the city market at a good price ; and you are 

 breeding horses to take his place. 



jSTow I do not believe in wearing horses out on the farm. I do 

 not think it is necessary. I do not wish to be understood as 

 saying that eveiy horse on the farm should be a brood mare; I 

 know where this is done the work itself is neglected, or the mare 

 or the colt is misused. This does not pay. I do believe that 

 on every N^ew York farm there ought to be one good brood mare 

 in service, and then she ought to be bred by the very best draft 

 horse available. The colt should be kept for three or four or five 

 years, and well handled. Just as well be worked, provided it is 

 not misused, ami then sold at the maximum price. 



Another thing. I believe that they ought to have better horse- 

 men, as well as better horses, on these I^ew York farms. If some 

 of the horsemen I have met in this state are a fair sample of 

 what your men do here, God pity the horses. It seems to be their 

 sole object to get all they possibly can out of the horse. That 

 is not the way we use horses in Minnesota ; we do not try to work 

 a horse to death. jSTo man or no horse can do all he possibly can 

 without a breakdo\\ni. 



Just a word or two along the line of breeding horses. In re- 



