SECT. 4. The Horse. BEFORE I go into particulars, I shall take the liberty to copy the beautiful description of him in the Book of Job, chap. xxxix. "Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou cloathed his neck with thunder? "The glory of his nostrils is terrible. "He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth out to meet the armed men. "He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he back from the sword. "The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. "He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believeth he, that it is the sound of the trumpet. "He saith among the trumpets ha! ha! and smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting." The lower classes of farmers have brood-mares as part of their tillage stock. They never consider shape, colour, or form in a sire, but lowness of price, (three half-crowns, or a barrel of oats being the usual payment.) No wonder that the race is degenerated; few are equal to more than six hundred weight. Another Another great cause for horses not improving is, the eager desire of crossing with racers. A gentleman has a half-bred mare; how many wonderful Jong chases has she carried him! how many high walls has she topped! He must have some of her breed, and sends her to a blooded horse; one of twenty so crossed ever succeeds. They run awry in many points, are weakly pasterned, and, in short, disappoint the fond hopes of the owner. Breeds in horses should be kept distinct; one cross may do, but a second always fails. The breeders of hounds, spaniels, and pointers know this well; the first cross between a fox-hound and a beagle is sure to produce the most useful kind of hound, but he should never be bred from: thus it is with setters and pointers; I have seen an excellent gun-dog out of a mastiff and pointer. If draft horses are wished for, breed from the most shapely, light-stepping of the draft kind; those, who breed cattle for the turf, take particular care in their selection. To breed horses for the army, carriages, road, or general service, it can best be done by crossing a large, roomy, thorough-bred draft mare with a good thorough-bred horse; the produce will be excellent for any use, but by no means breed from a mare got from such a cross; if more must be bred, look again for the thorough-bred draft mare. The The native breed of Ireland are about fourteen hands and an inch in height; thick and round in the carcase; close in the couples; short-backed; haunches well under; short-legged; close in the pastern; shoulders flat, to lie well back; withers high; neck rising boldly out of the shoulders, tapering upwards to meet a small head; a light ear, chearful eye, and pleasant countenance, without which no animal can be shapely. For roadsters, and for general use, the world cannot produce better animals; they are now and then to be met with, and are most highly prized. I have already mentioned the great advantage it would be, if the committee of the Farming Society gave encouragement to the importing and breeding the best kinds of draft stallions, to be stationed all over the kingdom; I consider that, and giving premiums for such, as the Society may approve, to be let out at moderate prices, as one great step to furnish a better breed. The next step is, to get rid of the barrel of oats stallions, which swarm in every fair; this can be done by charging every Irish-bred horse with a licence of ten guineas; every horse approved by, or recommended by any deputations from the Farming Society in the different counties, to be exempt from the tax; this would reduce the number of stallions, as they are called, and encourage the importing and and propagation of more useful males, which could not be leaped at less than a guinea, and any man, who would hesitate to pay that, should not breed. CHAPTER VII. An Essay on the means of converting Grass-lands into Tillage. SIR, Sackville-street, November 26th, 1801. THE Board of Agriculture have perused with satisfaction the Essay, with which you have been pleased to favour them, on the important subject recommended to their consideration by the committee of the House of Lords, and return you their thanks for the same. As a further mark of their approbation, they have unanimously voted, that a piece of plate shall be presented to you. You will be pleased, therefore, to acquaint me, what particular article will be the most agreeable to you, and in what manner it may, when finished, be transmitted to you with safety. I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, Thomas James Rawson, Esq. Cardenton, Athy. In In the demesnes of many noblemen and gentlemen, and in the feeding pastures of the rich slothful graziers, are vast tracts of land grown old in grass, overrun with moss, and hide bound, which would be highly improved by renewing the surface, without continuing them in tillage; from repeated trials, I have found an expeditious and cheap mode to be with a turnwrist plough; break up the grass land, stirring to a good depth, laying the grass completely under. If a turnwrist plough be not at hand, it may be executed by any common plough, going round the field or piece intended to be broken up, turning the earth evenly one after another, until the space in the middle be too small to admit of the plough's turning; this is to be dug up; on that fresh turned soil wheat, only in light loams, and oats in strong clays may be harrowed in, the soil made perfectly smooth, and, if it is intended to lay down to grass immediately, of ray-grass half a barrel, of red and white clover seed five pounds; each should be immediately sowed. In less than six months, the land will yield with the trifling labour of one ploughing and harrowing an immense crop; the surface-turf, which has been turned under, will become a high improvement, and great manure for the upper new grass surface, which will for every use be one-third better than the old. To expedite and improve the foregoing work, I have constructed a harrow-pin, differ |