Food. .34 i 



Ihey take in eating* it^ distends the stomach too suddenly to admit of 

 o( this being- done with impunity, notwithstanding- the rapidity with 

 which the digestion of this food goes on^ in comparison of any dry 

 provender that is not cooked. 



It is to be regretted, nevertheless, that Mr. Curwen should have 

 pronounced so preremptorily and decisively, upon the impossibility 

 of properly supporting- working- Horses without corn, for, by seve- 

 ral communications, from the most respectable quarters, made to the 

 Board of Agriculture, it appears, that Horses have worked well, and 

 for a continuance, that were fed with forty two pounds of steamed 

 potatoes, daily, with, no other allowance than cut straw ; whereas 

 Mr. Curwen's utmost allowance of this food, i« twenty one pounds. 

 And the fads which have already been stated, in the letter of the 

 Bishop of Kildare, may serve to satisfy every reasonable doubt upon 

 this head. I am decidedly of opinion, however, in case corn 

 })e thought indispensably necessary, for Horses that labour hard, in 

 addition to cooked potatoes; that it ought to he- mixed and blended 

 thoroughly^ along' with the potatoes and cut straw, into one mass, 

 f U is unfortunate that so many impediments exists to prevent tliis 

 plan of feeding- Horses upon cooked provender, from becoming- 

 ^eneralj as I have no doubt that it would be found, to be a national 

 object of immense magnitude, combining, as an ingenious author 

 has very properly observed, the saving of the individual with that of 

 the public. Indeed^ few persons who keep only one or two Horses, 

 •v^'ould choose to be at the trouble of having their food cooked for 

 them, although the application of steam to common culinary purpo- 

 ses, has, of lute years, been rendered both cheap and easy, from 

 the great improvements which- have taken place in the construcliou 



