11 is of the stock denominated as Paular, its dam being bred by the Hon. M. W. C. Wright, of Shoreham, Vt., and sired by the celebrated Paular ram known as the Tottingham ram, and owned by B. B. Tottingham, of Shoreham; weight of fleece, ten and a half pounds, shorn at one year old. No. 13, same blood on the side of both dam and sire as No. 11, being sired by the same ram and from one of said Wright's Paular owes; weight of fleece ten and three quarter pounds." THE RAM ONTARIO. THE engraving of the Merino ram Ontario, owned by Hon. E. B. Pottle and John Maltman, Ontario county, New York, represents the animal that took the first prize, in the class of yearling Merinoes, at the State show at Canandaigua, in 1865. His lambs received first prizes at the Auburn exhibition, in May, 1867. Ontario is a thorough-bred Infantado, got by Seville, he by Sanford's comet. His dam was bred by Hon. R. J. Jones, of West Cornwall, Vermont. a remarkably dense fleece, of fine style and unusual purity. He has TRAINING ANIMALS FOR WORK. BY W. II. GARDNER, CORNING, NEW YORK. I DESIRE to make a plea for education-the education of animals selected for labor. It is a little remarkable that a people numbering their educational institutions by the thousand should admit their inferior training of animals bred to labor. The half-civilized Bedouin, whose estate is embraced in his horse and its trappings, spends years of patient toil in training it for his use. The development of the animal under such training is wonderful, and as a result, the Arabian stud, in its acquired and transmitted brute intelligence, is at the head of its race. The shepherds of Judea have for centuries trained their flocks to herd; they follow their shepherds into "green pastures, and by the side of still waters;" each animal has a name, and knows its name, and answers the shepherd's call. Both American horsemen and herdsmen can gain by copying the practices of Oriental husbandmen. There is a great advantage in having all brood animals well and thoroughly trained. The offspring of such are more tractable, have less natural fear of man, and have also, very generally, certain transmitted qualities adding greatly to their value. I am a believer in the improvement or strengthening of the social nature of animals by careful breeding, and that association with man and thorough training to labor tends to increase their capacity and usefulness as well as kindliness of disposition. On the contrary, the vices of the parent are quite apt to appear in the offspring. Hence we deem it highly essential that all animals used for breeding, male or female, be thoroughly domesticated and taught to handle well, and have no fear of man. In this manner the value of all animals 356 used for labor may be greatly increased, and the care of farm animals rendered much more pleasant and satisfactory. In training animals it is necessary to understand thoroughly their nature and habits. One will start at the rustle of a leaf, or any new or unusual sight or sound; another fears not, but with firm step faces real or fancied, danger at the bidding of man. All trainers of animals have noticed the wide difference in their temperament: the one is nervous, fretful, and ruinously spirited; the other as quiet and cool as if endowed with reason. The training of the nervous class of animals should proceed very carefully. Many of this class are ruined early because over willing to labor or "go." It should be remembered that the animal in training is not yet a horse or an ox, but a young creature, without training of eye, limb, or muscle; lacking, also, strength, age, and endurance. Growth and training should proceed together. Light labor and easy driving will be advantageous, while the severe effort of an hour may work complete and permanent ruin. HABITS IN ANIMALS. Habit is, with brutes as with men, an iron-handed master. The animal designed for labor may be trained until the most laborious duties are performed as a mere habit. In fixing habits, great care should be exercised that no bad habits are taught. The animal of highly nervous temperament learns very readily and remembers well. A habit, whether vicious or otherwise, once learned, will be returned to or practiced by such an animal long after it is supposed to be forgotten. "Good spirits," a highly significant term, well understood by all trainers of animals, should be preserved. This condition can be maintained in neither horses nor oxen overtasked when young and growing. We deem this the most essential point in training for work. While in training there is a constant temptaThe important fact tion to let the young team do as much as the old one. should be borne in mind that light labor promotes a hardy, serviceable growth, while the adverse is as above stated. EARLY LESSONS. It is one of the first essentials in early training to bring the animal to depend upon the driver. Food, water, care, and training should be mainly by one person. A feeling of dependence as opposed to independence should be cultivated. There should also be a strong friendship, a familiar acquaintance, and The dog, our best trained animal, comes the fullest confidence of the animal. at his master's bidding; is held in check by his voice without bit or bridle; obeys a beck or signal, even when excited and impatient. The same may be done with the horse, with the same long-continued pains and care, the same friendly intercourse, the same fondling and social interchange of endearments. "Love and love only is the loan for love." There need be no fear of unreturned affection. All of our domestic animals love naturally the hand which cares for them and the voice which calls them. The labor is half accomplished when the animal has confidence in and a thorough acquaintance with the driver. Such confidence is always sought by good drivers-men understanding the influences which govern animals, no matter how well and thoroughly trained they may be. No demand should ever be made of a young animal with which he cannot readily comply. It is a good rule to very direction you want the moveso direct that the easiest way to move is in the ment made. Any and all demands made must be enforced. The trainer never suffers in the estimation of the animal when he succeeds, even if force be necessary to effect the wished-for result. WHIPPING, URGING, ETC. It is probably necessary to teach all working animals a wholesome fear of the whip. This done, and its further use is seldom necessary. The whip should not be used in urging to higher speed. The best of all gaits is a quick, nimble walk. Train all teams to walk well. It is the laborer's gait for the farm or road. Speed is rarely worth cultivating. THE TRAINER. He who is not most thoroughly under self control should never attempt instructing the ignorance of any, either of his own or a lower race of animals. He cannot succeed well. The voice, the eye, the lip, and motion betray the ungoverned man. How can he govern others, and train in good ways, who cannot control himself? He who would instruct must never yield the slightest evidence of passion, anger, or even impatience. If you train an animal to labor skillfully you have accomplished a victory over a will and physical strength, which, when aroused, are superior to your own. Reason is your strength, good sense your best reliance. How important, therefore, that your mind be free from the dominion of bad habits, enslaved by no excesses. No intemperate man should ever take charge of animals in training. HINTS ON OVERCOMING BAD HABITS. Bad habits are mainly the result of want of care or mismanagement on the part of those having charge of the animals. They have no knowledge of when they do wrong or when they do right. They are ignorant of all before them; the past and present alone are theirs. It is an old and true adage, that "ignorance is a blank sheet on which we may write; while error is a scribbled one, from which we must first erase.' Erasing bad habits in animals, as in ourselves, is among the most unpleasant labors known to him who has charge of animal natures. Prevention is much the easier and safer method. When a habit has become confirmed, a self-inflicted punishment should be sought for. When such means cannot be adopted, secure enforced obedience, (not by whipping,) and if possible deprive the animal of the power to return to a practice of the habit. Many pernicious habits are the result of overtasking, and come as the result of an endeavor of the animal to obtain rest, shift the burden of the harness, &c. Let it be borne in mind that training or instruction must precede knowledge, and that the brute has neither knowledge of cause, effect, nor our hope and reason to stimulate to labor. The labor of the animal is obtained through man's power over him; it is not a voluntary offering. Let not, then, that power be abused. Teach! instruct well and carefully, and prove yourself worthy the service of a welltrained, noble animal. It is highly important that young animals in training for work have easy, well-fitting harness, yokes, &c., that no impediment be offered to their laying out their full strength whenever needed. If these thoughts shall encourage the young of our land to give humane, yet thorough training to the animals in their charge, then will the object for which they were written be fully accomplished. Thorough training adds greatly to the value of animals and to the comfort of all who use them. |