62 



At tHe risk of a little apparent repeti- 

 tion, I wisli to refer a moment to the effect 

 of dryness and humidity upon the hoof. 

 It will be observed that as the hoof grows 

 during the winter — that is, for the five 

 months from the first of November to the 

 first of the following April, — the coarse, 

 weak hoof that is grown in the closed 

 stable during that time gradually pushes 

 down before it the portion of good hoof 

 that was grown during the previous sum- 

 mer — that is, in July, August, September 

 and October, — and in the spring — that is 

 to say, in April, May and June — the wear 

 will be entirely on this good portion of the 

 hoof. But by about the first of July this 

 part of the hoof will be worn out and the 

 wear will begin on the weak winter growth, 



