Farm and Dairy.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 August 1910, Page 4

Farm and Dairy.

$ —. CO-OPERATIVtf OWXKRSTHP OF STALLIONS. A iio\y years ago an agent came to our neighbourhood to sell a horse which had been in the neighbourhood for two seasons previous. Of course we knew this horse and knew something of his breeding qualities. They wanted C 100 for this horse and they wanted to enlist twenty men in the company. Of course they expected to get all good responsible men in the company. But here 1 may say that these agents have very little, care about this so long as they have enough responsible men to pay the noles, for they make them jointnotes, and the notes would have been collected had there been only one man in the company worth- C 100. But they smooth talkers and showetl how easily the horse could pay for himself. And what a good thing you are doing for tho community by keeping such a good l.orse in the neighbourhood. It lo)lced good enough to me and as a number of the nui.st careful and conser\ alive men in tho neighbourhood wore in it T thought it would bo .safe enough. The notes wore made payable in one, two and three years, so that there would be service money coming in before any of tho notes were duo.

Now how did this venture turn out?

Having boon secretary of this company T have the figures before me that show exactly. The company came into ownership of this horse on October 1, 1902, and sold him on February !), 1905, giving our notes for C 400.' Paid for care of horse, rent of barns, feed, veterinary bills, shoeing, etc., a<lol, making a total cost to the company of I'oOl. We received for insurance and feed left after tho horse was sold C 73, and from sale of the horse C 33, in all GIOG, leaving us holding tho sack for £398 and very glad to be out of it at that.

Now this horso was a very good breeder, and reasonably sure at first, but it was nt to hire some one to care for him."and while he always looked well he did not have tho necessary exorcise to keep him in condition for tho work required of him. This, of course, was in a time of cheap horses, but cheap feed and labour also.

A keeper cost us £4 per month, corn, Is fid per bushel, oats Is 3d, and hay C 2 per ton. Thi.s was rather dear experience, for some of us, but not soon forgotten.—C. H. Biiwer, in National Stockman and Farmer.