394 FOOD. 



after having been accustomed to it, will leave the best oats given 

 to them alone, for the sake of the mingled chaff and grain. We 

 would, however, caution the farmer not to set apart too much 

 damaged hay for the manufacture of the chaff. The horse may 

 be thus induced to eat that which he would otherwise refuse ; 

 but if the nourishing property of the hay has been impaired, or 

 it has acquired an injurious principle, the animal will either lose 

 condition, or become diseased. Much more injury is done by eat- 

 ing damaged hay or musty oats than is generally imagined. 

 There will be sufficient saving in the diminished cost of the 

 provender by the introduction of the straw, and the improved 

 condition of the horse, without poisoning him with the refuse of 

 the farm. For old horses, and for those with defective teeth, 

 chaff is peculiarly useful, and for them the grain should be bro- 

 ken down as well as the fodder. 



While the mixture of chaff with the grain prevents it from 

 being too rapidly devoured and a portion of it swallowed whole, 

 and therefore the stomach is not too loaded with that on which, 

 as containing the most nutiiment, its chief digestive power should 

 be exerted, yet, on the whole, a grea"^. deal of time is gained by 

 this mode of feeding, and more is left for rest. When a horse 

 comes i]i wearied at the close of the day, it occupies, after he has 

 eaten his grain, two or three hours to clear his rack. On the 

 system of manger-feeding, the chaff being already cut into small 

 pieces, and the beans and oats bruised, he is able fully to satisfy 

 his appetite in an hour and a half Two additional hours are 

 therefore devoted to rest. This is a circumstance deserving of 

 much consideration even in the farmer's stable, and of immense 

 consequeace to the post-master, the stage-coach proprietor, and 

 the ov/ner of every hard worked horse. 



Manger food will be the usual support of the farmer's horse 

 during the winter, and while at constant or occasional hard 

 work • but from the middle of April to the end of July, he may 

 be fed with this mixture in the day and turned out at night, or 

 he may remain out during every rest-day. A team in constant 

 employ should not, however, be suffered to be out at night after 

 the end of July. 



The farmer should take care that the pasture is thick and 

 good ; and that the distance from the yard is not too great, or 

 the fields too large, otherwise a very considerable portion of time 

 will be occupied in catching the horse in the morning. He will hke- 

 wise have to take into consideration the sale he would have for his 

 hay, and the necessity for sweet and untrodden pasture for his 

 cattle. On the whole, however, turuino: out in this way, when 

 cicrumstances wdll admit of it, will be found to be m.ore beneficjaj 

 for :,he horse, and cheaper than soiling in the yard. 



