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THE CULTIVATOR. 
84 
Breeding Horses for Purposes of Utility. 
To the Editor of the Franklin Farmer :—4 have ob* 
served, with much pleasure, some recent articles in 
your excellent paper, on the subject of “ Horses for 
agricultural purposes;” but those most especially com¬ 
mending themselves to the attention of the farmer, are 
the prize essays by Messrs. Williams and Beatty, and a 
more recent one by “ Crofts.” This subject is more pe¬ 
culiarly appropriate in these iron times , when it is ne¬ 
cessary to bring every thing to the standard of utility, 
and when it becomes prudent people to reduce all luxu¬ 
ries to comforts and all comforts to necessaries. With 
ns Americans, however, brought up in such pervading 
abundance, it is hard to discriminate between such as 
would be considered luxuries in Europe, and neces¬ 
saries in this country ; the first having become so com¬ 
mon here as not unfrequently to be classed with the 
latter, and probably among them all, there is no item 
of such unlimited and extravagant indulgence as horse 
flesh. To become aware of the extent to which this 
last has been carried, we have but to look at the vast 
sums that have been expended within the last 20 years 
in the importation of bloods. Estimate the immense 
number and cost of sporting animals throughout the 
country, then add the almost incredible number of road 
and farm, horses, that but for the indulgence of their 
owner’s pride and fancy, (luxury,) might much better 
be annihilated entirely, or their places, when indispen¬ 
sable, supplied with oxen or mules that could perform the 
necessary labor at half the cost; and, in addition, every 
ymung blood must have his crack gelding and every boy 
his poney, the aggregate of which is an annual expen¬ 
diture of millions that might be saved, without particu¬ 
lar inconvenience. But this taste always has prevailed, 
and will probably continue so to do to the end of time, 
and if not innate , has been so long indulged in, as to 
make it a useless undertaking to attempt abolishing it. 
We must, therefore, content ourselves with the more rea¬ 
sonable and perhaps equally beneficial task of endea¬ 
voring to guide the popular will. 
Whenever required at all, horses may be rendered 
valuable to the full amount of their cost, provided there 
is proper attention paid to breeding exclusively for utili¬ 
ty. In the manner of this, however, your prize essays 
are at total variance ; the first giving unqualified pre¬ 
ference to the “ thorough-bred for work”—the last as¬ 
serting very broadly, that “ experience has shown, both 
in England and in America, that horses of the p ure and 
unmixed blood, though very suitable for racing, are not 
the best adapted to farming purposes.” With this last 
opinion, I am fully disposed to coincide; for nothing 
can be plainer, than that the fiery, irrepressible ardor, the 
quick and sudden, almost electrical motion, the indomi¬ 
table, lion-like spirit and courage of the thorough-bred, 
constitute an excess of the qualities essential to a more 
servile animal. Occasionally a thorough-bred may be 
found, uniting all the best horse attributes in such just 
and well balanced proportions, as to entitle him to stand 
as a model of the prince of beasts. Such are, however, 
exceptions that only prove the rule. 
The properties required for farming purposes are 
very comprehensively stated in Judge Beatty’s essay:— 
a “ good constitution, gentleness and evenness of tem¬ 
per, docility, steadiness of movement, capacity to en¬ 
dure steady and constant labor, great muscular power, 
durability, hardiness; easy to be kept in order with 
moderate feeding;” to which, if we add symmetry of 
form, fine action and appearance, sufficient spirit and a 
quick pace when called upon for it—what more is re¬ 
quired for the gentleman’s horse ? Can these proper¬ 
ties be united? To a great extent we think they can. 
And the advantage of adopting this principle would be 
great; for in breeding such a race, all the progeny 
would be certain to find a ready and profitable sale, as 
the choicest in form, spirit and character would com¬ 
mand higher prices for the “ fancy,” while the medi¬ 
ocre would answer every purpose for the horse of “ all 
work.” But how is this combination to be obtained? 
Your first essay, (Mr. Williams’) says, “ import a bay 
Turk, a bay Barb, a Cleveland Bay and a Bay Dray;” 
your second (Judge Beatty’s) though recommending a 
judicious selection of domestic animals as breeders, yet 
clearly prefers, as conferring “incalculable benefits on 
the agriculturists of the country, the importation of 
several pair of the Black Cart-horse, the Suffolk Punch 
and the Cleveland Bay, to commence a stock with.” 
But the best English authorities say, “ the true Suffolk 
like the Cleveland, is now nearly extinct,” and of the 
heavy black horse, adds, “ these are adapted more for 
show and parade, and to gratify the ambition one has 
to outvie his neighbor, than for any peculiar utility.” 
While “ Crofts,” quoting the redoubtable Nimrod, cer¬ 
tainly a great authority, says we must go to France for 
the “ light cart-horse and the black roan stallions.” 
With entire concurrence in the belief as to the ulti¬ 
mate success of judicious experiments in crossing with 
the foreign breeds, I still think that the object of pro¬ 
ducing the most useful and valuable animal would re¬ 
quire more outlay of capital, time, observation and ex¬ 
perience, than American breeders have to devote to it; 
and at any rate, could not be obtained, except through 
several generations. England was at an incredible ex¬ 
pense, and from the time of Athelstane to George I. a pe¬ 
riod of more than eight centuries, before obtaining a good 
racer; and Bakewell, in our day, to improve the short¬ 
lived sheep, took a whole long life and spent thousands 
of pounds. What then is to be done? Why the most 
obvious thing in the world—just lay aside the telescopes 
and spy glasses that have been used to look across the 
Atlantic, and put on the old spectacles and examine the 
stock of the Northern members of the family compact, 
and see if they have anything indigenous to the soil 
and climate adapted to the present subject. 
Though they have not said, or writtten, or sported so 
much on the subject of horses as their countrymen 
south of Mason and Dixon’s line, yet the Yankees, 
with all their notions and indefatigable zeal, have not 
been altogether idle or unenterprizing in this matter. 
It is vastly to be regretted, however, that they have 
not adopted some regular, scientific and sustained sys¬ 
tem of breeding, for the want of which some of their 
best and most useful bloods ever imported, have become 
measurably extinct by infusion into the general mass ; 
and though this mass has thereby been greatly improved, 
yet from the neglect to perpetuate the concentrated es¬ 
sence of this improvement, it must be sought for, if at 
all, with some modifications. 
I can not speak certainly of any distinctly character¬ 
ized race as existing there now, although there is no 
portion of the Union where better roadsters and the 
every-day farm horse are found in greater proportions. 
A race existed, a few years since, in Vermont, called 
the “Morgan Horse,” valuable, enduring, active, and 
every way fitted for hard farm or road service, and of 
good action and reasonable size and appearance.. But 
it is now unfortunately almost extinct. It was made by a 
cross of the stout, English thorough-bred, on the hardy 
Canadian trotting mare; and this produce, a stallion kept 
by Mr. Morgan, put to the native Vermont mare, gave 
the “Morgan breed.” These horses have been repeat¬ 
edly tried at the south and west, by mail contractors, 
as stagers; and it was found that they would go much 
faster, give a harder pull, and endure twice as long on 
the road and in service, as the larger horses without 
known blood, bred there. A memorable instance of 
this kind took place on the road between Baltimore and 
Washington, about ten years since. A new line of sta¬ 
ges, starting with Vermont horses, in opposition to the 
old line with the long-backed, leggy, cow-heeled, Penn¬ 
sylvanian, reduced the time, between the two places, 
one-half. 
New-York, probably, combines a greater excellency 
of practical blood, than any state in the Union. She 
has had her Duroc, her Membrino, her Messenger and 
Eclipse, and lastly, her Bellfounder, a pure blooded, 
imported trotter, of great and deserved celebrity as a 
stock horse, having been used for the last twelve years 
on Long-Island and the Hudson river counties. From 
a combination of these, she annually produces a large 
stock of serviceable animals, unsurpassed and unsur¬ 
passable. Many of them sell, as soon as fitted for mar¬ 
ket, for $200 to $500 for actual service, while some of 
the fancy and fast goers, bring from one to three thou¬ 
sand dollars. Tom Thumb was a New-York horse, a 
mixture of blood and dunghill, so far as I could learn; 
and after beating every thing known in this country, in 
the trotting line, was shipped to England for a high 
price, and there won with ease, against tho host horses 
that could be produced. But his best time, when in 
America, can not compare with what a crack trotter 
will now do. To trot a mile within 2m. 35s. to 2m. 45s. 
is not considered extraordinary in New-York and Phi¬ 
ladelphia. Dutchman, in his great match of three 
miles against time, last season, carrying 145 lbs. weight, 
did the first mile in 2m. 34s. the second in 2m. 28s., and 
the third in 2m. 30s., making three miles in 7m. 32s. 
Now, this is a speed, taking into consideration the dif¬ 
ference of weights, almost equal to good racing. 
Long-Island weights, for aged geldings, is 123 pounds. 
Dutchman carried twenty-two pounds over this. Seven 
pounds is considered equal to a distance of 240 yards. 
Now, allowing for this, and considering that he would 
average the above speed for four miles, (which it is 
confidently thought he can do,) the performance would 
require 9m. 2s. I believe a race of four miles, done in 
eight minutes, is considered pretty fair time the world 
over. In the way of trotters and roadsters, the Bell- 
founders seem to be carrying away the palm just now, 
uniting as they do, the best English and American rac¬ 
ing and trotting blood; and when bred on to good, 
hardy, common mares, produce, at once, a substantial, 
fine appearing, serviceable animal. I will here give 
you the description of one that has been standing at 
Buffalo for the last three years, that you may see how 
near this style of horse would, on large, heavy mares, 
meet the ideas of your stock breeders. 
Bellfounder 3d was bred by T. T.Kissam,Esq. on Long- 
Island, New-York, and was got by the imported Bell¬ 
founder 2d—he by the celebrated Norfolk trotter, Bell¬ 
founder 1st, that went nine miles in less than thirty mi¬ 
nutes ; and his owner then challenged to trot seventeen 
and a half miles within an hour, which was not accepted. 
His grand dam was Velocity, by Hap Hazard, by Sir 
Peter, out of Miss Henry by English Eclipse—all racers 
of the first repute. His dam, Lady Alport, was got by 
Membrino ; he by imported Messenger, dambvTippoo 
Saib, &c. &c. Velocity trotted twenty-eight miles in 
one hour and forty-seven minutes. The present Bell¬ 
founder was foaled in June, 1830, and when five years 
old trotted over the Harlaem course, N. Y. a fraction 
short of a mile, in 2m. 45s. He was but partially train¬ 
ed, and of such spirit as it was difficult to curb to a 
trot. A stallion on this gait, is never considered as 
manageable as if made a gelding. It is, however, un¬ 
der all circumstances, a good speed, and indicates great 
capabilities for his stock. Bellfounder’s color is a dark, 
dappled bay, a small star in the forehead, one white 
foot, black legs, mane and tail. He is sixteen hands 
high, neat head, fine arched neck, short strong back, 
wide deep chest, long under the belly and powerful, well 
developed stifle, legs moderate as to length, joints strong, 
compact and well knit, smooth flat legs, with a pastern 
sufficiently elastic, but shorter and stronger than that 
of the racer. His weight, in ordinary flesh, is 1,200 
pounds, and it is confidently believed that he possesses 
all the requisites for service, so well enumerated by 
Judge Beatty. I would especially commend his docili¬ 
ty of temper, being as playful and obedient to a proper 
groom, even when in season, as a well trained puppy. 
While standing here, he has been put to mares of every 
variety of color, from white up to jet black, and still 
every colt, yet dropped, has been of a beautiful blood 
bay, and very much after the cast of the horse. This 
is an important consideration for those who contem¬ 
plate breeding matches. 
Good trotting horses are coming more and more into 
repute, not only at home, but abroad; and could our 
great stock producing states be better employed now in 
these hard times, than in growing well matched, servicea¬ 
ble carriage horses? These animals are in great demand, 
and ever will be in the Atlantic towns and cities, and good 
matches, there, always command a high price and sell 
readily; $400 to $1,000 a pair is not at all uncommon. 
Russia is at present, paying great attention to this de¬ 
partment of stock : trotters there, of a first rat repute, 
bring an immense high price, and are bred, not only 
for the road, but as an efficient arm of cavalry service. 
I have repeatedly seen about twenty thousand imperial 
horse guards, (probably as splendid a military show as 
the world can make,) under review, and many of their 
evolutions, I noticed, were on a fast trot; and one of 
the favorite past-times of the Emperor Nicholas and the 
nobility and gentlemen of Russia, the winter I spent at 
St Petersburg, was to attend the trotting matches on 
the frozen surface of the river Neva. 
Yours, A. B. ALLEN. 
Buffalo, N. Y. Jan. 17, 1840. 
Value of Ashes. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —From observation and 
actual experiment, I have come to the conclusion that 
leached ashes are worth at least six cents per bushel, 
to incorporate into a gravelly soil; and that unleached 
are worth four times as much as leached. Care should 
be taken to mix unleached ashes well with the soil. 
This fact shows the impolicy of farmers selling their 
ashes for 12| cents per bushel. J. TOWNER. 
A farmer ought never to purchase tin pails. A good 
wooden milk pail will out last two tin pails of equal 
cost. J. T. 
Gainesville, March 28, 1840. 
Contents of this Number. 
Predatory Insects—the Wire Worm, White Grub, > 
Plant Louse, Wood Louse, Pea Bug, and Curculio, ) 
Agricultural Schools—Agriculture in Massachusetts, 
Tropical or Southern Florida—Temperature of 1838 ? 
and 1839—Honey Locusts for Hedges, Brown Corn, \ 
Answers to Inquiries—Culture of Onions—Shrunk! 
Wheat for Seed—Cutting Red Oak Posts—War- j 
bles in Cattle—Grasses for Lawns—Potatoes from l 
the Seed—Apple-trees—Black Scours, &e.'—Culti- ( 
vationof Fruit Trees—Green’s Straw Cutter—Pou- I 
drette, ........ J 
The Strawberry-—Spring Crops—-Jerusalem Arti- j 
choke—Agricultural Societies—District School Jour- 1 
nal—Domestic Economy—Mode of making various j 
Kinds of Pudding and Pudding Sauce, . . J 
Tompkins Co. Agricultural Society Address—Light¬ 
ning Rods—On the Use of Lime—Late Sowing of 
Spring Wheat,. 
Dictionary of Terms used in Agriculture, 
Bartle’s Drill Barrow, and the New Land Coulter, by ) 
A. B. M’Clean—Plan of Dwelling House, by J. Cain, j 
Farming in Wisconsin, by E. B. Quiner—Berkshire > 
Pigs, by John Lossing,.$ 
Culture of the Sugar Beet, by A. B. Allen, 
Comments on Durant’s Report, by R. T.—Ruta Baga J 
injurious to Milk, by J. W. Poinier—Address to Ama- / 
teur Farmers of Western,New-York, by Evelyn, j 
Useful Hints to Prairie Emigrants, by a Subscriber—) 
Culture of Lucerne, by James Byrd—Chinese Tree ( 
Corn, by C. N. Bement, .... ) 
Cotswold Sheep, by W. II. Sotham—Timber, by S. 1 
W. Jewett—Popular Errors, by M. S. D.—Raising ! 
Chickens, by E. H.Vanuxem—Hog Illustrations, by i 
Solon Robinson,.J 
Saltpetre in Meat, by J.—Report on Pitt’s Thrashing) 
Machine, by Com. of N. Y. State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety—Chinese Tree Corn and Mad Itch, by John ) 
Reed—Spring Wheat after Potatoes, and Rotation 1 
of Crops, by E. W. F.—Mineral Rods, by N. Ives, J 
Geological Reports and Root Crops, by L. B. Arm-) 
strong—Whitington Wheat, by G. C. Thorburn— | 
Preparation of Seed Corn, by R. Foster—The Ro- } 
ban Outdone, by H. N. G.—Hard-Pan Lands, by 
J. Towner, . .. J 
Breeding Horses for Purposes of Utility, by A. B. Al- " 
len—Value of Ashes, by J. T., 
69 
70 
71 
72 
73 
74 
75 
76 
77 
78 
79 
80 
81 
82 
83 
84 
Figures 40-45- 
List of Cuts. 
Predatory Insects, . . . 69-70 
Fig. 46—Rartle's Drill Barrow, .... 76 
Fig. 47—New Land Coulter, .... 76 
Fig. 48—Parker’s Butter Table, . . . . 76 
Figs. 49-52—Plan of Farm Dwelling-House, . . 76 
Fig. 53—Berkshire Sow, &c.78 
from the steam press of 
C. VAN BENTHUYSEN, 
ALBANY, N. Y. 
