48 BREEDING. 



unfavQurable summer and severe winter (oU 

 low), that he never reaches a proper size in 

 growth, but displays the disadvantage of his 

 earliest state when arrived at maturity, 



it is no uncommon tiling in different parts 

 of the country, to observe mares that have 

 dropped their foals early, (before there is a 

 blade of grass for their support) placed in a 

 rick yard, where by incessantly tugging out 

 a scanty living, it is ridiculously believed 

 both mare and colt are indulging most luxu- 

 riously, though the direct contrary is really 

 the case: hay may undoubtedly, if admi- 

 nistered in due supplies, contribute a suffi- 

 ciency of support for the mare, but is not 

 calculated to yield, even in almost constant 

 mastication, any great nutritious superflux 

 for the subsistence and desirable improve- 

 ment of the colt. As there is a very great 

 difference in the nutritive qualities of food, 

 so there is a very material difference in the 

 milk it produces : indifferent or sparing ali- 

 ment will certainly produce a thin aqueous 

 impoverished milk, of quality and in quan- 

 tity, to sustain and barely subsist nature, but 

 by no means to give it strength^ vigour, 



