IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 203 



nailed, and by aid of an iron crank attached to the 

 axle, the machine is easily and rapidly Avorked, at 

 one third the expense of manual labor, and in less 

 than one third of the time. He used to keep several 

 hundred cows and horses, and of course consumed 

 large quantities of chaff: he told me that the whole 

 cost of erecting it did not exceed ten pounds. Mr. 

 Cleeve farms on a very extensive scale, and he in- 

 forms me that he has used a similar mill very advan- 

 tageously in threshing his corn. He applied it to 

 this purpose in the first instance, as a convenient 

 resource for paupers who complained of want of 

 work ! It cured all complaints, but latterly the 

 laborers have rather fancied the occupation. 



To return from this digression. Beans or pease 

 are often given with the oats, and when a horse is 

 travelling, or engaged in severe labor, this is judi- 

 cious ; some horses, indeed, w^hen accustomed to 

 them, will refuse their oats without them. Whenever 

 they are given they ought to be split : old horses 

 often cannot masticate them, and young horses, 

 when hungry, will not take the trouble. One or two 

 handsful in a quartern of oats are quite sufficient. 

 With this allowance of corn I should never fill the 



