190 FARM AND SCHOOL PROBLEMS. 



PROBLEMS. 



1. If a farmer who operates an 80 acre farm has 3 brood mares; 

 and 2 colts are raised each year, how many work horses will this farmer 

 have at the end of four years if colts are available for farm labor at three 

 years of age? 



2. A farmer finds that by pursuing the plan adopted in problem 1, he 

 can sell a team each year for an amount that is equal to the cost of keep- 

 ing the total number of his horses annually. What is the cost of horse 

 labor on this farm? 



It must be remembered that the question of greatest profit 

 is a problem of selection and breeding the best type. 



The advice of the horseman is : "When you get a pedigree 

 with the horse, see that you get a horse with the pedigree." 



A light or medium draft horse may perform the work of 

 the farm satisfactorily but .the fact must not 'be overlooked that 

 the heavy draft horse brings the highest price when placed upon 

 the market for the working type. 



The difference between the cost of keeping a heavy type and 

 the cost of keeping a light type for farm work is comparatively 

 small when the value of the two types are considered. 



A system of farm management that provides the proper ro- 

 tation of crops will furnish the greatest and most regular amount 

 of work. The greater the number of hours a horse may be used, 

 the less will be the cost of an hour's labor. 



The difference between the cost of keeping a horse regularly 

 employed for a definite number of hours each day and the cost of 

 keeping a horse that is only required to work at irregular intervals 

 is not very great when compared to the difference in the cost of 

 labor per hour. 



The question of economy in horse labor is therefore a ques- 

 tion of type, market price and farm management. 



Prior to the introduction of the parcel post, the Interstate 

 Commerce Commission compiled 'statistics that showed, that of 

 the total volume of transportation in the United States, the 

 steamships and railroads combined handle but 15%, leaving 

 85% to be moved by horse or motor power. 



During the period from 1900 to 1910 government statistics 

 show an increase of 8.6 per cent in the number of horses in use 

 on farms, and 11.7 per cent in mules and other draft animals. 



