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THE RURAt NEW-YORKER 
Live Stock and Dairy 
THE STORY OF THE HORSE. 
Pakt I. 
Modification of the Horse by Environment. 
The development of breeds is due, 
says Herbert Spencer, to selection (con¬ 
scious or unconscious), to physical en¬ 
vironment, education, training and nour¬ 
ishment. Conscious, careful selection 
of the best individual animals for breed-, 
ing purposes has undoubtedly been a 
great factor in the improvement of all 
of our modern breeds of domestic ani¬ 
mals; but unconscious selection, or the 
survival of the strongest and fittest, by 
nature’s slower process, has been g 
much mightier factor. The term en* 
vironment, as applied to the horse, may 
be siaid to include his shelter (or lack 
of it), his food, education, training and 
general care. The power of heredity 
is also noted by Mr. Spencer in this 
connection, for he says: “The actions 
of each generation help to mold the 
character of its posterity,” but, he con¬ 
tinues, “Organisms do not become what 
they are in their adult form by a simple 
unfolding of innate energy. Their de¬ 
velopment is dependent upon and caused 
by the never-ceasing action of the power 
of their environment. If the forces of 
environment change, the growth of the 
organism must also change. Hence the 
effects of domestication on animals and 
plants.” 
The horse adapts himself to his con¬ 
ditions with a greater ease, and is in¬ 
fluenced by his surroundings more, per¬ 
haps, than any other domestic animal. 
When bred and reared for generations 
on rich low lands, like those of Belgium 
and Holland, he becomes large an4 
heavy; but when reared in dry upland 
climates, or in semi-arid countries, bone, 
nerve and muscle are developed at the 
expense cf size and might. The English 
Thoroughbred traces his ancestry to the 
desert, not to the rich pastures of west¬ 
ern Europe or the valley of the Rhine. 
The cold climate and scanty fare of the 
Shetland Islands are responsible for the 
Shetland pony. As soon as these ponies 
are bred in a milder climate, where food 
is rich and abundant, they at once begin 
to increase in size, and in a few genera¬ 
tions are no longer valuable as ponies. 
Early French settlers who came to the 
valley of the St. Lawrence, brought 
with them many of the horses of Nor¬ 
mandy and Brittany. Owing to the 
hardships and scanty fare of pioneer 
days, and to the rigor of the climate, 
the descendants of these horses in time 
became much smaller, but at the same 
time more active and fleet and endur¬ 
ing. The hardiness of the French-Ca- 
nadian horse is in fact proverbial. This 
breed, as a breed, has only recently 
been rescued from extinction. A f<?w 
pure specimens were hunted out from 
back parishes where other breeds of 
horses had not entirely absorbed the 
old French type. With these as a 
nucleus, an association has been formed 
and a stud book established for the 
breeding and recording of this justly 
famous horse. Present specimens of 
the breed are, however, no longer pon¬ 
ies. Better conditions of housing and 
care, with fewer hardships and plenty 
of food, have already increased the size 
to that of a “general purpose” animal— 
although, in practice, they have always 
been a general purpose animal. I am 
told that many of the horses now regis¬ 
tered weigh 1,200 pounds or more. 
The Coach horses of Germany are 
said to be slow and easy going, like 
their masters, while those of France 
show the vivacity and spirit of the 
Frenchman. No doubt this condition is 
brought about by training and selec¬ 
tion. The German likes a quiet horse, 
and consequently breeds and educates 
to that end; the Frenchman, on the 
other hand, enjoys spirit and dash, and 
requires his horses to reach a high 
standard in this respect. This matter 
of temperament may serve to illustrate 
one of the many ways by which the 
horse is influenced by his surroundings 
or environment. c. s. m. 
BREEDING BELGIAN HARES. 
There has been a question as to suita¬ 
ble methods of breeding hares. I sup¬ 
pose of course the inquirer refers to 
Belgian hares. There is nothing easier. 
I know of nothing that breeds more 
readily, unless we take as literal, the 
trite “Pigs is Pigs.” To breed in the 
open one must enclose quite a space 
with wide, fine-mesh chicken fence, one 
edge sunk about a foot in a trench, with 
plenty of small rocks thrown in along 
the inside, then covered and tramped 
down, as hares burrow. In the center 
of the inclosure throw loose rocks, and 
over this make a big brush pile. The 
hare will dig burrows under this. But 
a better way is to raise in hutches. A 
hutch should be five feet long,-two feet 
wide and two high, with hinged door 
of fine chicken fencing. The buck 
should be kept in a hutch by himself. 
Each doe should have a nest box in 
the end of her hutch, a box about V /2 
foot each way, with an arched opening 
in front large enough to let the doe 
pass in and out easily. The hutches 
should be cleaned out thoroughly each 
day, and clean straw or shavings 
sprinkled on the floor. A little before 
breeding time the doe should be given 
fine soft hay or straw in abundance to 
build her nest. This should not be put 
in the nest box but in the hutch. She 
will take it in, a mouthful at a time, 
and build her nest to suit herself. As 
she finishes it she bites bits of fur from 
her own breast and lines the nest. She 
makes it as round and perfect as a 
bird’s nest, down-lined, and also ar¬ 
ranges a cover that she draws over the 
little ones whenever she leaves the nest. 
The top of the nest box should be loose, 
as it sometimes happens that there is 
a dead one that must be removed. It 
will not do to examine the nest without 
precautions, else the doe will kill all 
of the little ones. She does this be¬ 
cause the smell of the hand in the nest 
leads her to think a strange rabbit has 
been there. If you must examine the 
nest, cut up some carrots and feed to 
the doe, out of your hand, and run 
your hand over her. Then quickly lift 
the lid of the nest and feel for the 
dead bunny. The odor of carrot is so 
beloved of hares, and withal so strong, 
that she will not be apprehensive. But 
unless absolutely necessary never put 
your hand in the nest. 
Keep plenty of hay, clover if possible, 
preferably Alfalfa in the hutch, some 
oats, fresh water, and carrots every 
day. When breeding take the doe to 
the hutch of the buck for an hour or 
so. Never put the buck in the doe’s 
hutch. This spells disaster. Just as 
soon as the little ones are weaned put 
them in a pen by themselves. They 
have learned to eat, and will grow like 
weeds. Breed the does again, and when 
the bunnies are about five months old 
the bucks must be separated, or they 
will fight. A small doe will raise six 
or eight in a litter. A large doe will 
raise 15. M. m. 
STEAMING SILAGE. 
I am very much interested in E. D. 
Funk’s article on page 847, “Cooking 
Silage With Steam.” I often studied 
myself whether there would not be 
some means by which silage could be 
treated so that a person having two or 
three cows could feed the silage fast 
enough so that it would not spoil. Two 
years ago I filled a silo eight feet in 
diameter, 20 feet high. I had two cows 
part of the time and three cows the 
remainder. When the weather stayed 
cold I could feed the silage off fast 
enough so it would not spoil, but as 
soon as the weather changed and got 
warmer (which it does very often in 
this climate during the Winter) the 
silage would spoil. Mine is a stone 
silo and is not tight at the top; round 
silo, 8x2 feet. I would like to know 
whether a person could cook the silage 
with steam in a silo such as I have, 
so it would keep the silage to feed two 
or three cows. That is, so it would 
not spoil by feeding only a little off 
each day. I would like to know just 
how to place the steam pipes and hose 
connections, and are the coils of pipe 
left in the silage or taken out? 
Delaware. G. w. g. 
R. N.-Y.—About all we know con¬ 
cerning this cooking silage is contained 
in this article by Mr. Funk. We should 
not expect this wooden silo, “not tight” 
at the top to stand the steam pressure. 
September 14, 
THAT SHEEP QUESTION. 
In reply to S. A. G.’s inquiry, page 
918, I would advise him not to begin 
with too large a flock. Begin with 
yearlings or two-year-olds and with the 
increase of your flock will come an in¬ 
crease in experience. They will require 
besides pasture good clean water and 
plenty of salt. Sheep will do better if 
they can have a change of pasture 
once in a while. Any shelter that will 
protect them from storm and wind will 
be sufficient. I should want to see them 
once a week. This is all the attention 
they would need in the Summer. You 
will not find it necessary to drive them 
about, only as you change pasture. They 
will not destroy pasture for cows, but 
will eat much closer. I think you would 
find Cheviots or Blackface Highlands a 
good breed. For Winter they will re¬ 
quire housing in a building free from 
draughts, and for roughage you might 
feed clover hay, bean fodder, Alfalfa, 
silage, or almost any coarse fodder. For 
grain, oats, corn and bran are good 
mixed, or oats alone at the rate of a 
pint per head. j. s. pratt. 
Orleans Co., N. Y. 
Goitre. 
Can you toll me what ails my three- 
months-old colt? About two months ago I 
noticed two lumps, one on each side of the 
windpipe, just under the lower jaw. These 
lumps are about the size of turkey eggs, 
and are gradually increasing in size. If' 
there is a cure for this please advise us. 
A. R. 
There is enlargement of the thyroid 
glands; but this may disappear if the colt 
is well fed and develops perfectly. Hub 
the lumps with iodine ointment each other 
day. a. s. a. 
Red Mange. 
Will you advise me what to do for a bull 
terrier dog that has some kind of a skin 
disease? All the hair is off the under part 
of the body and legs. The skin is reddish 
or pink with little white blotches, also 
some very dark colored blotches full of 
impure blood. These burst and leave a sore 
which runs for a day or so ; unless I grease 
the skin it cracks and scales and gets very 
dry, but will not heal. I have tried every¬ 
thing without result. J. l. 
New York. 
It would be best to send the dog to a 
competent veterinarian for treatment in his 
hospital, as each form of the disease 
(eczema) requires appropriate treatment 
according to the symptoms present. Do 
not use carbolic acid or coal tar dip solu¬ 
tions. Cleanse the dog thoroughly with 
soap and hot water and dry perfectly; then 
for a week rub in once daily an ointment 
of two drams of sulphur and one of ich- 
thyol to the ounce of lard or lanolin. After 
this has been done wash once more and 
then once daily apply a lotion composed 
of one part of salicylic acid to 35 parts 
of warm olive oil. Make the dog live an 
out-door life with as much exercise as pos¬ 
sible, and feed one light meal each even¬ 
ing. See that his bed is kept free from 
fleas. a. s. a. 
P erclieron and Belgian Stallions and Mares for sale 
at farmers’ prices. A. W. GREEN, Route 1, 
Middlefiehl, O. Railroad station, East Orwell, O.. 
on JPenna. li.R., 30 miles north of Youngstown. O, 
-GRADE HQLSTEINS-i 
200 HEAD TO SELECT FROM 
We have some of the finest individuals and 
heaviest milking cows in Central New York. 
25 Head of Extra Fine Grade Guernseys 
due to freshen soon, also 
2 Car-Loads of Grade Holstein Heifers 
two years old, all nicely marked and in calf 
hy registered bulls. 
F. P. SAUNDERS & SON, Cortland, N. Y. 
East River Grade Holsteins 
.. . FOR SALE ... 
40 Cows just Fresh 50 Holstein Heifers 2 yrs. old 
30 " due in Aug. 40 Yearling Heifers 1 yr. old 
100 " due Sept., Oct., Nov. 5 Reg. Bulls ready for service 
All the Cows and Heifers are 
High Gradesand will please you. 
BELL PHONE JOHN II. WKUSTKK 
311-F-5 Dept. K, Cortland, N. Y. 
HAVE SIX THOROUGHBRED 
HOLSTEIN BULL CALVES FOR SALE 
from three to six months old, from selected stock. 
Also some very fino grade HOLSTEIN HEIFERS. 
P. B. McLennan, 412 Court House, Syracuse,N. Y. 
BACKED BY HIGH OFFICIAL RECORDS 
Ontario Hugo Burke, born March 2, 1912. Holstein 
bull 3 4 white. Price, $75 with all papers but easily 
worth $200. Send for pedigree. 
CI.OVKllDAI.K FARM, Charlotte, N. Y. 
Holstein-Friesian Bull Calves 
offer. THE GATES HOMESTEAD FARM, Chittenango, N. Y. 
SEPTEMBER BARGAINS^M 
Spruce Dichter Sir Beryl,$25.00, registered; Chester 
White Sows, ready to breed, $25.00; White China 
Geese, $10.00 a pair; Indian Runner Ducks, $3.00 
pair; free booklet. 
GEO. E. HOWELL, SPRUCE FARM, HOWELLS, N. Y. 
FOR S/\LE —CuernseyBuHCalf 
King David 22057. TTroppetnTarcT^T^Tohi^Tiy 
Huliie Loo of Maple Glenn 15525: Bess of Edinburgh 
25497. Address, J. PUGH, Station A, East Liverpool, Ohio 
If You Wanf Guernseys I^VVMew 
GUERNSEY BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION, Box 9B, PeeKskifl. N. Y. 
'TOMPKINS CO. BREEDERS’ ASSOCIA- 
* TION, Box B, Trnmansburg, N. Y.—Breeders 
of Holstein, Jersey & Guernsey cattle and the lead¬ 
ing breeds of sheep and swine. Write for sale list. 
Breed Up—Not 
buy. Superior dairy (lams. No better sires. It. F. 
SHANNON, 907 Liberty Street, Pittsburg, Pa. 
PrfwitlfPTW f° r New York City market 
IlUUUOOie desiring information how to 
form branches of the Dairymen’s League, write to 
the Secretary, Albert Manning Otisvilie. N. Y’ 
DOGS 
pm I 1C DIIDQ entitled to registry; spayed females 
IiULLIl rUlO Circulars. SILAS DECKER, Montrose, Pa 
PHI I IP DIIDPI CC $5 each and up. CLARK 
UULL.IC rurrico farm, Boonton, New Jersey 
Meridale Jerseys 
Our records for 20 years show a con¬ 
stantly improving herd. Like improvement 
in your herd can be secured by adherence 
to the principles and practices which have 
worked success at Meridale Farms. A bull 
of Meridale breeding has spelled success 
for many as a start in herd improvement. 
At the head of the Meridale herd is The 
Imported Jap 75265, a son of Eminent’s 
Raleigh 69011. universally recognized as a 
most successful sire of dairy cows. The 
Jap’s dam, Karnak F. 8798 IT. C., Gold 
Medal cow of the Island, was for years 
credited with the largest known yield of 
butter in a single day. Iler record has 
this year been exceeded by a few ounces, 
but 3 pounds 6% ounces butter in a public 
contest is still a most notable production. 
Karnack 2d. full sister of The Imported 
Jap, is one of the Meridale Jerseys, and 
her record in the first year after importa¬ 
tion, and after an unfortunate start at 
the beginning of the year, further attests 
the wisdom of our judgment in selecting 
The Jap to head the Meridale herd. Kar¬ 
nak 2d, since beginning her present test, 
December 19. has given 7,589 pounds 3 
ounces milk, 567 pounds butter, an average 
of 1,007 pounds 6 ounces milk, 62 pounds 
butter per month, being now 226 days in 
milk. 
Better yet. The Jap’s own daughters at¬ 
test his worth. Five of them are already 
enrolled in Register of Merit. The first 
to complete a year’s work began as a two- 
year-old. and finished with 7.191 pounds 
milk, 389 pounds 11 ounces butter. An¬ 
other has given 6.164 pounds 15 ounces 
milk, averaging 6.861 per cent fat, and 
making 425 pounds 1 ounce butter. 
Particular attention is invited to sons 
of The Jap now for sale. Here are two of 
them, solid fawn ccor, well grown, and 
well made: _ 
(1) Bonner’s Lenore 204894, the dam 
of this calf, has more to commend her than 
is usually found in the mother of a bull. 
She is a large cow, weighing over 1,000 
pounds, carries a large udder and good 
teats, and her general conformation is ex¬ 
ceptionally good. More than this, she com¬ 
bines in her pedigree some animals which 
have done their full part in making Jersey 
history. Her sire was King Bonner King, 
who probably attracted more attention at 
the time of his birth than any other bull 
born in America. He developed in a most 
magnificent sire. Her dam was very like 
her in size and conformation, and had the 
remarkable test of 25 pounds 1 ounce but¬ 
ter in seven days. She was strong in the 
blood of old Eurotas, being sired by Eu- 
rotas’ Pride. The breeding in any one of 
these lines is sufficiently strong to com¬ 
mand particular attention. 
(2) The wonderful breeding of this calf 
entitles him to special consideration. 
Through his sire he is very strong in the 
blood of Golden Lad. Karnak, dam of The 
Jap, was a granddaughter of Golden Lad, 
and her sire was a son of Golden Lad 2d. 
The Jap’s sire was a grandson of Golden 
Fern's Lad, who was a double grandson 
of Golden Lad. The Imported Jap’s pedi¬ 
gree shows seven strong lines to Golden 
Lad. The dam of this bull calf, Ruth’s 
Golden Tulip 235410. was sired by a 
double grandson of Golden Fern’s Lad, and 
her dam was a double granddaughter of 
Golden Fern’s Lad. Her two granddams 
were among the best daughters of Golden 
Fern’s Lad. Considering the strong Golden 
Lad blood in the sire, and the equally 
strong Golden Fern’s Lad blood in the dam, 
we do not believe that any other bull of 
his age can be found to-day carrying more 
of this blood. Individually he is a fine 
specimen. 
A copy of our booklet, “Meridale Jer¬ 
seys,” containing full descriptions of these 
young bulls ana others equally promising, 
and telling in a general way of the work 
wo are doing at Meridale Farms, will be 
sent on request. Address 
AYBH c fcs MOK.INNE3Y 
300 Chestnut Street 
