418 



The Small Holder's Horse. 



[Aug., 



important fertiliser we produce. To the extent to which it is 

 used for explosives it must be diverted from agriculture just at 

 the time when it is imperative to increase the home-grown food 

 supply to the utmost extent. This was the situation with 

 regard to ammonia during the War. 



The case for increasing the home supplies of nitrogen is thus 

 clearly established and urgent. Agriculturists may watch with 

 close interest the results which attend the pioneer attempts in 

 industry to render this country independent of foreign markets 

 for our supplies of this essential fertiliser. It is on the success 

 of such efforts, only in degree less than on the more direct efforts 

 of the farmer, that the prosperity and security of British agri- 

 culture must largely depend. 



While the farmer in a large way of business may find it 

 economical to use young horses solely for ploughing, older horses 

 for both ploughing and hauling, and others, 

 Tj^^ Sm^ll again, for drawing light vehicles at a quick 

 S liorse. p^^^ roads, the occupier of a small 

 holding is obliged to carry out all such work with the aid of one, 

 or perhaps two, horses. To' ex-service men and others who may 

 be so placed, the question of the best type of horse is therefore 

 important. The small holder's horse should be a general utihty 

 animal — one which, although it may not be the ideal horse for 

 any particular class of work, can yet draw a plough or a loaded 

 cart on the land, and can also travel to market with a cart con- 

 taining farm or garden produce. It must be strong and active, 

 and of the right age to perform constant work of every description. 



With regard to the question of breed, it is possible to find 

 suitable animals among Clydesdales, Suffolks, Shires, or crosses 

 of these breeds. Sometimes crosses between heavy and light 

 horses are found suitable. Much depends on the situation of 

 the holding. In many districts, mountain or moorland ponies 

 are used largely for draught purposes, except the small Exmoor 

 and Welsh ponies, which are suitable only for pony traps. In 

 parts of Wales, on Dartmoor and in the New Forest, there are 

 ponies of the mountain and moorland breeds that may be 

 described as the ideal draught animals for the small holder — 

 inexpensive to keep, courageous, intelligent, resourceful and 

 able to draw a considerable load at a reasonable pace. A note 

 on these ponies appeared on p. 308 of last month's issue of this 

 Journal. 



