4G0 On the Cost of Horse-power. 



voluntary, arisinf? from deeper and more frequent cultivation, 

 which Avould explain such differences as appear in these tables. 

 The further information which is to be extracted from a study of 

 them must be left to be gathei'ed by the reader. It is worth 

 while pointinfj out to him how the number of horses kept on a 

 given extent of land overrules in its ultimate effect the most eco- 

 nomical style of stable management. Mr. Sandford's horses cost 

 him only 16/. 6s. each per annum for their food, i. e. about half 

 as much as those of Mr. Melvin ; and yet the expenditure of 

 the latter per acre for horse-labour, high as it is when com- 

 pared with the other cases on the list, is not so high as that of 

 Mr. Sandford. 



This paper is intended to be merely descriptive of actual 

 practice; and, excepting by pointing out existing differences, I 

 have not pretended to offer any remarks on stable management, 

 by way of either censure or recommendation. The following 

 report, however, by Mr. Baker of Wriltle, on this subject, I give in 

 full, as it describes what seems to me very excellent management, 

 and, excepting perhaps the entire absence of succulent food — 

 carrots or Swedish turnips — from the winter feeding, worthy of 

 general adoption. I have not interfered with the scale of valua- 

 tion adopted in its calculations, although it differs from my own ; 

 and I have given the whole statement, notwithstanding that certain 

 passages do not strictly bear upon tlie subject of this paper : — ■ 



" My present treatment of horses from Michaelmas (29th Sept.) to April is 

 as follows ; — 



Clover hay 10 lbs.) ... , „. 



r,, ■^ on 11 > cut into cliafl. 



Straw 20 lbs. ( 



Good oats 10 lbs. 



40 lbs. per diem. 



During the seed-times (about 5 weeks each) 4 or 5 lbs. of good old split beans 

 additional are given per diem, and I'rom the end of November till the middle 

 of February the oats are in part taken off, according to circumstances — say to 

 6 lbs. per diem, the full quantity of 10 lbs. being given always whilst at 

 plough-work. My horses invariably plough an acre per day — a pair of horses 

 only, with reins to each plough and without a driver. For heavy work of 

 extra depth three horses are used, and for roots the dejith of furrow is increased 

 by using two ploughs with two horses each, one following the other, the 

 hinder plough not having a breast upon it. By this double o[ieration the 

 land is worked 12 inches deep, at a less expense than could be accomiilished 

 by one ploughing. A single ploughing varies from 6 to 9 inches in depth ; 

 we plough deeply for roots, but not for wheat or beans. 



"During the spring months, say from the middle of April, my horses have 

 early rye, mown green, and cut up with the hay and straw, increasing the 

 former and diminishing the two latter weekly, until by the middle of May rye 

 alone is used cut as before ; and the horses will continue to eat it when so 

 managed until the middle of June, when the rye has come fully into ear, and 

 at that period they get in better condition than at any other portion of the 

 year. From the time that the rye ceases, vetches with rye are substituted 



