584 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



mares. However, she did not make this growth on nothing, but because she received 

 lots of good clover hay, and lots of oats and bran. There is not much ' secret ' 

 about these feeds. The only ' secret ' about the farmers not getting size in their 

 horses is 'not enough feed.' No colt has ever been ruined by giving too much of the 

 above named feeds, when it gets lots of exercise. This is why the filly was turned out 

 every day of the winter (except three or four very stormy ones) from about 8 in the 

 morning until 5 in the afternoon in a paddock where there was from one to three 

 feet of snow. There was a well-bedded shed, boarded on three sides, where she 

 could go in when it was blowing hard. But it is wonderful how little she made use 

 of it. Of course, if the filly had been fed as heavily as she was, and had remained 

 in a box stall all winter, there are ten chances to one that her limbs could not have . 

 retained their good quality and condition. 



\ 



EXPERIMENT — WINTERING A HORSE AT LOW COST. 



The gelding which was used for this experiment in 1911-12 was in splendid 

 shape for last season's work. There seems no doubt that the bulky ration and the 

 roots had a very beneficial effect on the digestive tract of the animal. 



The same experiment was made in 1912-13. A very nervous mare, about 15 

 years old, was used. She was chosen to see how a nervous animal would come 

 through, the gelding of the previous year being of a rather quiet disposition. She 

 gained 105 pounds weight between November 1 and March 31. 



The ration fed both years was one pound of hay from mixed grasses, one pound 

 of straw, and one pound of swedes per day per 100 pounds weight of the animal. 



If the mare used in the experiment of 1912-13 goes through the season's work in 

 good shape, it would seem advisable for farmers who own more horses than they 

 can use in winter time, to try this way of feeding the idle animals. 



This experiment should, in my opinion, be continued for a couple of years 

 more, when a short bulletin or leaflet might be published. 



