FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 135 



GENERAL VS. SPECIAL PURPOSE CATTLE. 



What has been said regarding general purpose cattle in no way reflects 

 on the value of special purpose cattle. They have their values and their 

 friends, but in this age of keen competition in all branches of business, it 

 is good policy for the farmer to consider the claims made for the different 

 classes of cattle and the basis for such claims, before investing much 

 money in any. It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss theories in 

 breeding. This question has been before the people for many years, and 

 all who wish may be informed on all points from the numerous treatises 

 on stock breeding which everywhere abound. The aim is to call atten- 

 tion to that which may be profitable to the farmer who must make his 

 living and expenses from the profits in his business. Nearly all kinds of 

 domestic animals are needed upon every well conducted farm, and it is 

 very essential that the specimens bred and grown should be of those 

 which are practical. 



HORSES. 



The same practical utility should be sought in the breeding of all other 

 domestic animals. The ordinary farmer cannot afford to pay fabulous 

 prices for the services of trotting stallions from the fact that so few colts 

 thus bred prove fast enough to bring prices that would warrant the out- 

 lay. Such breeding must be left to professionals. Only for market 

 purposes can the farmer afford to breed excessively heavy horses. For 

 farm work and its attendant road requirements, a medium sized horse is 

 desirable. Such a horse can be obtained by using a well bred and well 

 made trotting or coach bred stallion if not too expensive. Such horses 

 are best fitted for farm work. It is the general custom to use three 

 horses abreast for the heaviest farm work, and a horse weighing from 

 1,150 to 1,250 pounds in ordinary flesh is best adapted for such purposes. 



My observation has led me to the belief that a medium sized horse is 

 a longer lived animal than the very heavy horses, and less liable to 

 sprains and injuries. Muscle, power, endurance are all very essential 

 qualities in a good horse. Let specialists pursue their vocation, and the 

 vocation is a necessary one to bring out the highest excellence in any par- 

 ticular direction, but the farmer should breed for farm purposes a horse 

 capable of endurance and fair speed upon the road and good working 

 ability on the farm. In short, he should breed a general purpose horse. 

 No unsound mare of any breed should be used for breeding purposes. 

 She should be free from blemish, and contain, in a marked degree, quali- 

 ties desired in her offspring. 



WOOL AND MUTTON. 



Formerly, when the farmer was supposed to have interests that the 

 government should foster in connection with the further manufacture of 

 his products, growing and breeding sheep for wool or mutton was found 

 profitable, and high developments in both directions were obtained. The 

 wool grower could point with pride to his valuable flocks of Merinos that 



