80 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Feb. 
THE ENGLISH DRAFT-HORSE. 
English Draft-Horse. 
The breeds of horses used in Britain for heavy draft, 
are the Lincolnshire, the Suffolk, and the Clydesdale. 
The largest of these is the Lincolnshire, of which the 
above cut is a representation. They are usually not less 
than seventeen hands high, and very heavy in propor¬ 
tion. The Clydesdale and Suffolk are of less bulk, but 
are more active. Although horses of such size are not 
required for ordinary purposes, in this country; it is, 
nevertheless, a fact that the introduction of the English 
draft-horse has been of considerable advantage in im¬ 
proving our stock. In many instances, a cross from this 
kind of horse has added greater strength, constitution, 
and an ability to perform more labor in proportion to 
the expense of keeping, than our stock had previously 
possessed. Many of our readers will recollect an Eng¬ 
lish draft-horse called Sampson, imported several years 
since by Mr. Sotham. Some of the best and most power¬ 
ful work-horses now owned in this vicinity, are the pro¬ 
geny of that horse. They are of compact form,short-joint¬ 
ed, very muscular, and have a rapid and easy walk. They 
are also hardy, and easily kept in condition. There is 
a similar stock of horses in Wayne county, N. Y., de¬ 
rived from a horse of the same name as the above, im¬ 
ported by Mr. Robinson, of Palmyra. 
At the New-York State Fair at Buffalo, in 1848, a 
Clydesdale stallion was exhibited, from Toronto, Canada. 
He was a horse of remarkable activity, for one of so 
large a size. We are informed that his progeny are 
highly esteemed as farm-horses. Youatt observes:— 
11 The Clydesdale is a good kind of draft-horse, and par¬ 
ticularly for farming business, and in a hilly country. 
It derives its name from the district on the Clyde in 
Scotland where it is principally bred. The Clydesdale 
is larger than the Suffolk, and has a better head, a long¬ 
er neck, a lighter carcase and deeper [wider] legs,- he is 
strong, hardy, pulling true, and rarely restive.” 
Low prefers the Clydesdale to the English draft-horse, 
chiefly on account of its activity. He says, “ They step 
out more freely, and have a more useful action for ordi¬ 
nary labor. The long stride, characteristic of the breed, 
is partly the result of conformation, and partly of habit 
and training; but however produced, it adds greatly to 
the usefulness of the horse, both on the road and in the 
fields. No such loads are known to be drawn at the 
same pace, by any horses in the kingdom, as in the 
single-horse carts of carriers and others in the west of 
Scotland.” 
Robert Bakewell, of Dishley, whose name stands 
immortalized as the founder of the New Leicester breed 
of sheep, commenced his career under great disadvanta¬ 
ges: it was not on a sudden that he attained his high 
celebrity as a breeder. It is recorded of him that the 
first ram he let out he drove to Leicester fair, and ob¬ 
tained only sixteen shillings for the use of him for the 
season. About the year 1760 his rams did not sell for 
more than two or three guineas each ; and for their hire 
he received from fifteen shillings to one guinea per head: 
he gradually advanced his prices, and in 1770 he let 
some of them for twenty-five guineas. It is said no one 
ever knew the method on which he made his crosses. 
His great object was to gain the greatest weight of meat 
upon the smallest quantity of bone, and to combine this 
with symmetry of form, early maturity, fine quality of 
flesh, and a great propensity to fatten. He said, “ You 
may stick a patch on a sheep anywhere.” He proceeded 
exactly on the same principle in his breed of sheep as 
cattle ; viz: the fattening in the most valuable parts of 
the body, and on the least quantity of food.— Eng. paper . 
Feeding.— Always be regular and systematic in feed¬ 
ing your stock. Regularity is the best balance wheel 
of Agricultural enterprise; derange this, and the ma¬ 
chine 11 runs down.” Stated hours and specified quan¬ 
tities—graduated according to circumstances, should in¬ 
variably be observed. “ Neither too little nor too much, 
too often nor too seldom,” this is the true policy. The 
coarest fodder should be fed out in mid-winter. Ani¬ 
mals have then sharp appetites, and will eat, what would 
be rejected at other times. In moderate weather, stock 
may be fed in yards. 
