Farmers' Week in Agncultural College. 191 



of profit, it is not good business sense to keep, as working stock, only good 

 draft mares that can work every day in tlie year except the ten days im- 

 mediately following foaling. At the same time this mare will produce a 

 colt that at weaning time is worth as much as the average price per head 

 of all the horses in the State at the present time, and a colt which will 

 increase steadily in value up to maturity, provided you do not knock him 

 in the head with a stalk field the first winter. 



I am informed that the horses imported into this countrj^ from 

 France are raised by men on small farms, and that the price of feed is 

 much higher there than here. Mr. John Huston, the venerable live stock 

 judge and early importer, told us at our former meeting that he had 

 paid 60 cents per day for pasturing colts in France. Should we not pro- 

 duce horses of equal quality on our cheaper and better pastures? 



Environment means much in the rearing of the draft horse. Proper 

 environment includes feed, care and shelter. We have the feed and the 

 shelter on Missouri farms. Add the care and increase the profit. Feed 

 the colt liberally the first and second winters and you have added many 

 dollars to the selling price, for it is this feed and care that makes weight. 

 Extra weight is worth $20 to $25 per 100 pounds in the market. Begin 

 the first winter's feed when the colt is about a month old. 



If your mares are what might be termed ' ' near draft mares, ' ' that 

 is, heavy farm chunks, and you are breeding up to heavy draft, you will 

 find the good care of the colt often getting him into the draft class where 

 otherwise he would be classed as a chunk, for the tendency of heredity 

 is always downward. Therefore, the money difference in this case is at 

 least $40. 



I have mentioned the care of the colt. The mare should also have 

 proper feed and care during pregnancy and you will have a better colt 

 to begin with. Do not misconstrue the meaning of proper feed and care. 

 Do not feed the mare as if you would capture the prize at the fat stock 

 show, and do not give her such excellent care as a tight box stall and no 

 exercise. "Work her moderately, but avoid backing her or turning her 

 short, or forcing her over slippery places, and avoid sudden changes of 

 feed or work. 



The cry throughout this entire land is Draft Horse. You may see 

 it in every daily paper, every market report and in every farm journal 

 under the heading, ' ' Horse Market : Draft Horses, good to choice, first 

 — Draft Horses, fair to good, second." Then the other classes follow. 

 The draft horse will always hold the same place in the market. He is 

 king. 



I wish to say to the farmer who remembers so well the depression of 



