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a ■ In n V a., in ie h r. ,.. Ie ■t a a ie te aa He ie - v. ,,,. »c in- u- IMPBOVING THE H0BSE IN KENTUCKY. Nine Thoroughbred Stallions Purchased for General Use Under State Racing Commission Plan. I-xington. Kv.. November Ki.— Nine of the teu stallion- that are la figure in the scheme of stock improvement In Kentucky horses, for which the Kentuckv State Racing Commission is s| onsor. aire readv have been turned over to Prof. J. J. Hooper, head of thr- animal husbandry department. State Itiivcrsitv. who has been selected lo piece the sires and k -ep" in touch with farmers who are to be cus-is lodians. Within another week the tenth horse will have been secured, and the definite program of dis-jr tribution will be undertaken. Professor Hooper said that the stallions would be kept here until February. In the meantime he will is-ue a tiookbt giving the pedigrees of the sires. together with their photograph-, ami setting out the piUiM.sc- of the commission. Applications from farmer- who are desirous of keeping the slallion- will be solicited. When Ihesc ale received they will be sifted to two men in each of the ten communities in which it is determined stock improvement is most needed. Professor Hooper plans to visit sections from ■ which applications are considered to determine which of the willing farmers is best situated to have I the care of a stallion. A canvass will be made of f the neighborhood to ascertain whether or not the e field of mares is adequate to the purposes and to 0 learn positively that to have the thoroughbreds is a popular desire. When all conditions have been fulfilled, - arrangements will be made for the care of f the horses. It is the desire of the commission to place the e animals where they can lie of service only to the e farmers of moderate circumstances. It isnt to be a a rich mans opportunity in any sense. Fees to be e charged will be as near nothing as conditions will .1 I permit, the estimate covering merely the horses s / board. Farmers will be required to take good care e of their charges, providing ample feed, clean stables s and proper iwsture. Home of the conditions are e tractable enough to be ridden about the farm, and 1 none is viekms. The horses already in quarters at the race track k are Mad River. Mnrzer. Magazine. Busy, Polarine. ■. John W. Chester. Samson. Ivan Gardner and Milan. i. IL seems probable that Johnson N. Camdens famous • horse Luke will be the tenth member of this s philanthropic stable. Mr. Camden is regarded as s the father of the improvement idea, and he has ■ aliout agreed to turn over the Horse at a sum which is within reach of the appropriation. James M. • Ross, secretary of the Kentucky Assoei.iti.m. is assisting Professor Hooper in making the selections. •■ Two grooms are in charge of the collection, but t students of the Agricultural College are to be utilized. I- In this practical way they will learn lessons ■ in the care and management of horses of high type. Already twenty-four applications for the stallions J have been received. These will be put on tile and d the selections made late in December. It is the purpose " to increase the number of stallions to fifteen 11 next year and to twenty in 1917. . The stallions are all large and have been selected 11 with the idea of producing large colts. It is believed " that the produce of coarse mares can be refined through the infusion of thoroughbred blood J ■ and that the size of the foals of little mares Can be ** increased. The demand for better-bred horses is increasingly f active, and the commission hopes that Kentucky will remain in the forefront of producing states. • The half-breed will lie adapted la all farm uses s and will command good prices as officers mounts and ■ cavalry horses, hunters, buggy and saddle horses. Tile movement to improve quality is to be prosecuted ;, .1 in an intelligent, systematic manner, and it is the lielief of its sponsors that benefits will be . manifest in a few years.
