l8oo. Bejl Food for Horfes. ^\ 



Almoft every thing I have faid will equally apply to a flieep- 

 farm, though I have no difficulty in admitting, that the want 

 of green food is attended with lefs lofs and inconvenience in 

 the one cafe than in the other. Experience fufhciently allures 

 us, that a Hij^hland farm is capable of paying a great deal 

 more rent under the (heep than the cattle fyftem ; and the real 

 caufe is preclfely what is here alligned, to wit, that the (irft 

 may be profitably kept without the aid of green foo(.l during 

 the Winter ; whereas, the other cannot be reared with advan- 

 tage, unlefs fuch collateral fupport can be procured. 



Hence it follows, that breeding farms, where green crops 

 cannot be raifed, ought to be applied folely to the (lieep huf- 

 bandry ; and that the rearing of cattle ought to be confined to 

 fuch parts of the kingdom as are capable of producing a fup- 

 ply of food during every feafon of the year. I am, &c. 



Verus. 



TO THE CONDUCTORS OF THE FARMER's MAGAZINE. 



Brji Food for Horfes. 



Gentlemen, 



Having fome time ago obferved a Publication advertifed, 

 intituled, " The Farmer's Magazine," a work which I hope 

 will be equally creditable to you, and ufeful to the public, — I 

 take the liberty of fuggefting a few hints refpedling the foocl 

 of our doraeilic animals ; which, under the prelent circum- 

 ftances of fcarcity, and the bad quality of every article of 

 provifion, may be attended with fome benefit. In feafons fo 

 unfortunate as the prefent, uncommon vigilance is neceflary ; 

 the higheit degree of which will be little enough to avert a 

 very ferious and widely extended calamity. Having made 

 fome obfervations upon the quality of provifioiis in particular 

 years, I lay the refuk before you. In late wet feafons, the 

 firfl evil arihng from damp or uuwholefome grain, is a difor- 

 der of the bowels, attended wifh gripes, loofcuefs, &c. which 

 carry off" m.any individuals of all defcriptrons ;*and, of thole 

 that furvive, the aliment pafles fo rapIcUy through their bowels, 

 that little of the nutritive qualities remain. To counteract 

 this evil, boiling has been had recourfe to ; and, to a certain 

 degree, has had the effect of preventing gripes, and lelTening 

 any immediate danger. The pratftice is, however, fubjecl to 

 one difadvantage ; namely, that of opening the bowels too 

 much. There is another remedy, which, from experience, 

 has been found more beneficial, not only for removing the 

 griping and diioider of the bowels, but at the fame time in- 



D 2 furing 



