THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



45 



and calls for proper constitutioaal treatment, which 

 by restoring the strength will effect a cure ; but 

 in other cases, the peculiarity of the stride is the 

 cause, and we are compelled to arrange the shoes 

 to meet the difficulty. The hind-feet will require 

 the shoes with side-cli[)s and square-toes, which 

 may be kept inside the horn ; the posterior part of 

 the toe of the fore-shoe may likewise be rasped 

 away. The hind-shoes are, however, principally 

 concerned; and there is fortunately no difficulty 

 in shortening the toes consideraably without in- 

 juring the foot, there being no necessity for nails 

 or clips in this part. In very occasional instances, 

 the animal's conformations are such that no care in 

 shoeing can remove the evil ; but generally it may 

 be concluded with perfect safety that the habit is 

 quite curable by a proper attention to the feet. 



For application to flat weak hoofs with low heels 

 and a tender sole, no shoe seems so successful as 

 the "bar-shoe." This is in reality a common shoe 

 with a piece of iron crossing from one heel to tlie 

 other, giving thereby a more extensive ground 

 surface, allowing more space for placing the nail- 

 holes, and consequently a better chance of fixing 

 the shoe by nailing in those parts where the horn 

 is best able to bear the introduction of the fasten- 

 ings, the increased surface for the support of the 

 fiiot permitting with safety the removal of any 

 pressure from a particular part in cases of corns, 

 or injury to the sole. With the addition, if neces- 

 sary, of a leather covering between the shoe and 

 the hoof, the bar-shoe furnishes an invaluable 

 means of jirotecting the foot in cases of such 

 chronic diseases as "canker" and " quittor," 

 where treatment is required for a long time, and 

 the patient expected to perform his ordinary work 

 during the cure. 



To every one who cares for his horse's soundness, 

 the treatment of the feet in the stable is a matter 

 of grave importance, neglect in this respect entirely 

 negativing the advantages of good shoeing. We 

 have several times insisted on loose-boxes in pre- 

 ference to stalls, as more favourable to the change 



of position necessary to prevent stagnation of the 

 circulation in parts prone to it from their position ; 

 we have also objected to the litter being always 

 left for the animal to stand on, or rather in. To 

 these points we have only to add the necessity of 

 keeping the feet cool and moist by the daily em- 

 ployment of wet wrappers round the lioofs; pieces 

 of old horse-rug answer perfectly well for this 

 purpose, doubled three or four times, and tied 

 loosely on. Stopi>ing the bottoms of the feet we 

 do not lay much stress upon ; if the sole be never 

 cut thin, and the litter be thrown up during the 

 day, we should not perceive much necessity for 

 stopping. However, where material can be easily 

 obtained, no harm jan possibly follow from the 

 ])lugging of the .et by a mixture of cow-dung 

 and clay, taking care that the compound is always 

 moist. The use of some protective to the outside 

 of the hoof is very desirable, and common tar 

 should always form the base of any compound 

 employed for the purpose. A very good mixture 

 is made of tar, four parts ; soft soap and bees-wax, 

 of each one part ; melted together, and coloured to 

 suit the hoofs. 



In every well-regulated stable the feet are peri- 

 odically examined to ascertain that the shoes are 

 all fast and in proper place, especially before a 

 journey be undertaken. Horses in moderate work 

 will wear shoes for six weeks, and probably requite 

 fastening, or removing and re-adjusting, once 

 during the time. When the work is exclusively 

 on soft ground the shoes last much longer, but 

 will always require removal at the end of a month 

 or six weeks, supposing they retain their proper 

 position so long. Horses doing fly or brougham 

 work on the London stone during the " season" 

 will frequently cut out their fore-shoes in ten days 

 or a fortnight, and even require them fastened 

 once or twice during this short time. Such fre- 

 quent interference with the hoofs must naturally 

 be injurious, but happily the majority of horses 

 are not in a position to render such treatment 

 necessary. — Jackson's Oxford Journal. 



THE MANAGEMENT OE LIGHT LAND, 



Mr. Robert Henderson, of East Ellerington, Hay- 

 dou Bridge, has recently read a paper on the man- 

 agement of light laud, before the members oC the 

 Hexham Farmers' Club. He spoke to thefollowiug 

 effect : 



Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen — The subject whicli 

 I have to bring before your notice to-day, is "The 

 Management of Light Laud," a subject of very great 

 importance, because light laud is capable of being 

 cultivated so as to raise a greater variety of farm 

 produce than some kiuds of land, and as the pros- 

 perity aud comfort of. many farmers and families 

 depend on the manner in which it is conducted open 



Although this subject may leave a wide field 

 for much to be said, it leaves me as much at alo^^ ^^ 

 adopt a system to be generally followed under ^^"^'^ 

 a multiplicity of complex circumstances as are con- 

 sequent upon farm-holdings and farm operations, 



such as locality, length of lease, extent of capital, 

 and extent of the farm, which is not of the least im- 

 portance ; under these, and many other circum- 

 stances, it would be impossible to fix a system suitable 

 on all occasions, as it sometimes happens that pro- 

 prietors of land are so situated as not to be _ willing 

 to give their tenants due encouragement to improve 

 their farms, or where landlord aud tenant are com- 

 pelled to come to an misatisfactory agreement, which 

 leads the tenant to adopt a system both contrary to 

 the condition of the land and his better judgment, 

 whicli not unfrequently causes them to counteract, 

 instead of assist each other ; aud yet we see tenants 

 farm and succeed very differently, even uudcr the 

 same owner and with the same couditicus. Eut 

 where a landlord and tenant make a mutual agree- 

 ment for a farm, for a certain term of years, without 

 a long chapter of barbarous and stringent clauses in 



