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MORE ADVOCACY OF HIGH BREEDING. Washington, D. C, May 11.— United States Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr., who is a member of the Agriculture and Forestry committee, to which the Pittman bill appropriating 00,000 for the production of a better type of horse for agricultural and military purposes has been referred, is particularly qualified to speak on the subject of horse breeding, as he is a member of the well-known family of that name, which has made the Genesee valley famous throughout America as the home of horses of quality. "I regard the production of horses of the right type as something that is worthy of the attention of the farmer and horse breeder everywhere," said the junior senator from the Empire State, a few days ago at the Capitol, "and the only question in my mind is how the matter shall be approached as a country -wide proposition in order to acheive the best results. We have the government with its experimental stations in various parts of the country, and the breeding bureaus of the Jockey Club of New York, and the Kentucky State Racing Commission, doing good work, but their influence is not national at the present time. The entire matter is, of course, an educational problem, and once the sympathies and aid of those that are capable of working out the problem and evolving the type of anniial best fitted for our needs are enlisted, we should make progress. We are told that foreign governments are taking a lot of good cavalry remounts from us, and I um in a position to confirm that statement, having seen 9,000 head of horses and 5.000 mules ut a British remount headquarters at Lathrop, Mo., last Novemlier. As a whole the horses were a splendid lot. and I had at first hand a practical demonstration of how England has earned her reputation for landing her horse supplies on the continent with a minimum of loss. The station was under the control of Col. Drage, who had perfected a system which called for a thirty days stay in th" camp before trans-shipment. The animals were kept in pens of 500 each, being grouped according to tlie date of their arrival, and it was interesting to note the improvement of their condition with the lapse of time. They were given u regular amount of work, and were in perfect health when started on their journey, the result being thnt the losses from Lathrop were only one-half of one per cent." "What manner of horse do you think best suited to the army?" "It is generally agreed, both in this country and by European authorities." responded the senator. •th.it the half or three-quarter-bred is ideal for the service, though the short-coupled trotting-bred animal, well packed over the loin, also makes a splendid mount. Taking the qualifications of the thoroughbred and standard-bred into consideration. I should say that the perfect type of army horse will be evolved from these families. Always in the evolution quality of bone should be a primary condition. "The matter of horse-breeding has not had the attention it deserves," continued the senator. "Agricultural colleges have given a spur and a stimulus to the jieople to breed better sheep, cattle and hogs. The farmers have been taught that the planting of selected seeds makes for the maximum of crop production. Federal and state governments have given their assistance and encouragement to such work, and he would indeed he brave who would ask for a withdrawal of the method or the curtailment of appropriations for such work. If the same efforts were made looking to the establishment of the type of horse this country needs, the result would be equally as gratifying as that which attends any other agrarian pursuit. This has not been done to date, however, but I believe it will come. Once there is an establishment of type there should be no deviation from it. "We read occasionally of how the tractor is driving the horse from the farm." went on the senator, "but my observation is that good farm horses were never higher in price than they are at present, and the horse as an accessory of country life holds a secure ] osition." In concluding. Senator Wadsworth said that he considered the price of 50, now paid by the federal authorities for a three-year-old cavalry mount, as being too low, and there would be an additional incentive to produce this type of animal if the margin of profit to the dealer were increased.
