^3S ACRICgLirjlAL. ESSAYS. 



fial. It has often happened that the colts, begotten in a seasoTi 

 will hordiy ui the time of weaning pay for the use of their sire! 

 Tbc; raising of a valuable breed of stud-horses should be en- 

 couraged; but the interest of the farmers would certainly be 

 better promoted, m raising a valuable breed of horses, if thev 

 would make it an object to keep no mares for breeding but 

 such^as possess the properties which constitute a valuable 



It ha^ been usual to work breeding mares through the great- 

 est part of the year, laying them aside only a week or tw^o be- 

 lore toaling, and during the summer season, when giving suck 

 to the young foal. By this means, the strength and vigor of 

 the mother is not only weakened, but the size and powers of 

 tne toal are often diminished by the exertions of the mother, 

 when kept at work. It is believed by some farmers, that from 

 three months before foaling, until the colt is weaned at seven 

 months old, the dam should not work. 



.Jr!}l ^^^1^'f "^^n^ethod of weaning is preferable, whencircum^ 

 stances render it practicable. Suppose the colt about sever! 

 months 6.U tr.e li^t cf J?.]i'i-;y ; put a haltdi- oil it, and tis it to 

 the manger, by the side of the dam. Loosen it and let it suck 

 two or three times each day, for about a week. Afterwards 

 continue it tied by the side or the dam, watering it three times 

 a day, by carrying water into the stable. Gradually teach it to 

 drink milk, to eat bran mixed with water, patatoes, and other 

 succulent food; and to give this kind of food, together with 

 good hay, until grass time. It should always have a good dry 

 bed to sleep on. The second winter it should be kept tender- 

 ly also, and well fed with potatoes, good hay, &c. but should 

 eat no oats or corn, until it is at least three years old. A colt 

 should never be allowed to be poor in flesh. 



It is believed that the superiority of the English breed ofhor- 

 ges, may be accounted for by the same reasons, which have in 

 these essays been assigned for the extraordinary breeds of 

 Lnglish neat cattle.* 



It is probably owing in a great measure, if not principally, to 

 the succulent and other food, moie nutritive than dry dav giv- 

 en to their horses through the winter, by means of which they 

 keep them growing the whole time from the foal, till they ar- 

 rive to the period assigned by nature, at which they attain the 

 utmost size and maturity which 1 heir nature and constitution 

 Will admit. It IS doubtless by this moans, that the English 



^ Soe e«say oo Neat cattle. 



