48 BREEDING. 



wet unfavourable fummer and fevere winter 

 follow) that he never reaches a proper fize 

 in growth, but difplays the difadvantage of 

 his earlieft ftate when arrived ^t niaturity. 



It is no uncommon thing in different parts 

 of the country, to obferve mares that have 

 dropped their foals early, (before there is a 

 blade of grafs for their fupport) placed in a 

 rick yard, where, by inceifantly tugging out 

 a fcanty livings it is ridiculoufly believed 

 both mare and colt are indulging moft luxu- 

 rioufly, though the dired: contrary is really 

 the cafe j hay may undoubtedly, if admi- 

 niftered in due fupplies, contribute a fuffici- 

 ency of fupport for the mare, but is not 

 calculated to yield, even in almoft conftant 

 maflication, any great nutritious fuperfiuxr 

 for the fubfiftence and defirable improve- 

 ment of the colt. As there is a very great' 

 difference in the nutritive qualities of food, 

 fo there is a very material difference in the 

 milk it produces ; indifferent or fparing ali- 

 ment will certainly produce a thin aqueous 

 impoveriflied milk, of quality and in quan- 

 tity to fuftain and barely fubfift nature^ but 

 by no means to give it Jlrengthy vigour, 



growth. 



