The Farm.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 454, 15 March 1890, Page 4

The Farm .

(From the New Zealand Farmer.) < Ponies in Fashion. Signs are nob wanting that the pony has entirely superseded the gig a 3 an emblem of respectabilit} 7 , and is now an exceedingly popular animal, says the Field.; - The number of ponies entered at horse Shows has been sufficient to suggest the expediency of sub-dividing them into several classes, all of which are almost invariably well fillod ; and it says much for theinterosb evinced in breeding them, that the'class for those under 12.2 should be so numerically strong at every show. It must hot be lefbuinsaid that a proposal has -been made to give the diminutive “Sheltie ” a stud-book to himself, and so to preserve pure and unstained a breed which beyond all others lias retained its old characteristics. It is much to be regretted that the same cannot be asserted of the other breeds of ponies which were at ono time famous in England, but which have

been crossed and re-crossed with toreign blood, until, for all practical purposes, the evolution of another species may be said to have taken place. The pure Exmoor and Dartmoor breeds are scarcely ever met with, . yet the former has furnished many a good hunter for the hills of the west, even for men who cannot be strictly termed light- • weights. Welsh ponies are sufficiently jflentiful, and at horse shows within convenient distance of the Principality, a few exceedingly nice specimens of Welsh pony sires may be seen ; though, cur'ously enough, when the Royal Agricultural Society first tried the experiment of giving prizes for this breed on tho occasion of the show being held at Shrewsbury in 1843, tbe results were nob so satisfactory as might have been expected. At Gloucester, the clas* was a failure ten years’ater ; and even for the special prizes offered by the late Sir Watkin Wynn, when the Royal took place at Chester in 1853, there was a very poor competition. In fact, it was not until restrictions as to breed were abolished, and classes for various sizes were instituted, that ponies became a prominent feature at the Royal or any other show. The plan of breeding from Arabs, let the produce be what it may, is only another proof that tho production of a small animal, and nob the perpetuation of a pure breed is the object aimed at; and when tbe Arab sire is pub to a pony mare, it must not be forgotten that the mare is often useless as a dam for one of her own species at a subsequent time, owing to the tendency of mares to throw back to some sire with which they may at some anterior time ha\e been mated. Anything more beautiful in the way of ponies than Mr C. W. Wilson’s Pomfret Wonder and Little Wonder, can scarcely be imagined ; while Prince Charlie and Tommy are fine specimens of the more diminutive classes; and these are a stamp of pony which, like the well-known prize-winners, Fanny, The Don, and The Prince, should be preserved from extermination in tbe craze for blood and quality. Yet, on looking over a pony class at a show, it wovld be impossible to say how the majority are bred, even if “ breeder unknown ” were not appended to their names. From time to time consignments of Norwegian, Icelandic, Welsh, and other mountain ponies are offered for sale, yet it is comparatively rarely that even the most undeceivable buyer succeeds in finding one of sufficiently good appearance, or with high enough action, to fit him for park or show purposes ; and it may be incorrect to say that the majority of these drove ponies find their affinities in carrying small children, or pass into the hands of people whoown a pony, as be : ng hardier,’and cheaper to keeD than the average horse. The pony that brings a sum of money which would buy many a good 14-stone hunter, with a character, is a rare animal, of which few are bred, yet for which there is always a market when found. Since the term “ Galloway ” has, like the animal to which it at one time applied, dropped out of use, an extended signification has attached to the word “ pony,” which may now denote anything up to nearly 15 hands ; and the institution of pony-racing has served to make it still more inclusive. For racing purposes, however, tho pony is a very different sort of steed from the pony of the show. The latter must trot well, and hove good action, and if up to weight, so much the better ; while the racing pony is not, strictly speaking, a pony at all. He is a 3 nearly thoroughbred as possible, and must gallop ; and the racing galloway is nothing more nor less than a thoroughbred which can be got to measure not move than 15 hands. After the National Pony Racing Association was first formed, a few persons thought that an impetus would be given to pony breeding; but-, as a fact, it will have no such effect, except so far at regards racing ponies, which, as already stated, bear no likeness to the ordinary pony, and the breeding of which is a work of pure chance, inasmuch a?, when dealing with under-sized thoroughbreds, there is no telling whether the breeder will be rewarded with a mouse or a mountain. But anything that does not exceed 15.1 can generally bo made to measure 15 bands for pony racing purposes. Side by side, however, with the increased demand for the under-sized thoroughbreds called, by courtesy, ponies, there is an increased and increasing call for the pony proper, to say nothing of tho weight-carrying cob, which, when perfection, is perhaps as costly a hack as can be purchased. Nor is the market for ponies confined to England, as they are becoming fashionable in America, where there used at one time to be two very distinct breeds of them. For harness purposes ponies are very much more used than they were twenty-five years ago, and this is uo doubt owing to tbe carriage builders constructing so many different sorts of two-wheeled vehicles adapted to the powers of ponies of all heights.

Young Pigs after Weaning.— The profit ’ : from pigs is largely determined by the treatment they receive immediately after weaning time. The best plan to adopt is • 'to commence feeding several days before 'weaning,, giving bran mixed with milk, winch should be allowed to stand. Provide ■ a trough in a place where the pigs can run . into and, eat by themselves undisturbed, •';.vj|nd .they will soon learn to eat and accustomed to their changed diet. 1 A * good orchard is the very best- . place for growings pigs. If there is a * ! good supply of grass, a small quantity "V 0 f bran and milk will keep them in good order. There is danger of pigs getting . etunted at this time, and it is almost im~/.possible to correct the mischief. At this .■//“season the faster the growth with the pigs ■ the larger will be the profit, and the period from now onwards until real hot weather I * sets in is the very best time to secure a [ healthy, growth. With young pigs, if they have plenty of good green clover or lucerne, pi there is little danger of over-feeding; (.) but it is never a good plan to give stock of -any kind more than they can clear s »up'comfortably. So with ,pig 3, it is better out, just what they ..want and give •' . •thein'Bo much. : V