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NA T URE-S T UD Y RE VIE W 



[11:1— Jan., 1915 



in economic practice. In studying the horse, for example, we 

 should ask the question, and teach the answer— "What principles 

 and practices are needed most now and here in order to bring about 

 direct improvement in the farm work horses?" One need may 

 here be discussed briefly to illustrate the point. What is the 

 common menu of the average farm work horse ? Unless the writer 

 is badly mistaken, it is corn and timothy hay, three times a day. 

 Now this is not a well balanced ration for a working horse, and 



A Boy's Poultry Project 



the monotony of it, would disgust both beast and man. The 

 animal husbandry specialists tell us that both timothy hay and 

 corn have too much carbo-hydrate food in proportion to protein 

 food to make the proper balance to keep a work horse in good con- 

 dition. By the addition of cotton-seed meal, oats, alfalfa, and 

 other foods richer in protein, a proper balance is restored, the horse 

 enjoys his meals better, and he comes through the work season in 

 better flesh and condition. There is no reason why the teaching 

 of elementary agriculture should not lead to this improvement, 

 along with others in this connection which will not be discussed at 

 this time. 



