400 FOOD. 



threaten to crack, a few tares, cut up with the chaff, or given in- 

 stead of a portion of the hay, will afford considerable relief Ten 

 or twelve pounds may be allowed daily, and half that weight of 

 hay subtracted. It is an erroneous notion, that, given in mode- 

 rate quantities, they either roughen the coat or lessen the capabi- 

 lity for hard work. 



E-YE Grass affords a valuable article of food, but is inferior to 

 the tare. It is not so nutritive. It is apt to scour, and, occasion- 

 ally, and late in the spring, it has- appeared to be injurious to the 

 horse. 



Clover, for soiling the horse, is inferior to the tare and the rye 

 grass, but nevertheless, is useful when they cannot be obtained. 

 Clover hay is, perhaps, preferable to meadow hay for chaff. It 

 will sometimes tempt the sick horse, and may be given with ad- 

 vantage to those of slow and heavy work : but custom seems 

 properly to have forbidden it to the hunter and the hackney. 



LucERN, where it can be obtained, is preferable even to tares, 

 and SAINFOIN is superior to lucern. Although they contain but a 

 small quantity of nutritive matter, it is easily digested, and per- 

 fectly assimilated. They speedily put both muscle and fat on the 

 horse that is worn down by labor, and they are almost a speci- 

 fic for hide-bound. Some farmers have thought so highly of lu- 

 cern as to substitute it for oats. This may be allowable for the 

 agricultural horse of slow and not severe work, but he from whom 

 speedier action is sometimes required, and the horse of all work, 

 must have a portion of hard meat within him. 



The Swedish Turnip is an article of food the value of which 

 has not been sufficiently appreciated, and particularly for agricul- 

 tural horses. Although it is far from containing the quantity of 

 nutritive matter which has been supposed, that which it has 

 seems to be capable of easy and complete digestion. It should 

 be sliced with chopped straw, and without hay. It quickly fat- 

 tens the horse, and produces a smooth glossy coat and a loose 

 skin. It will be good practice to give it once a day, and that at 

 night when the work is done. 



CaPcRots. — The virtues of this root are not sufficiently knoMTi, 

 whether as contributing to the strength and endurance of the 

 sound horse, or the rapid recovery of the sick one. To the 

 healthy horse they should be given sliced in his chaff. Half a 

 bushel will be a fair daily allowance. There is little provender 

 of which the horse is fonder. The following account of the 

 value of the carrot is not exaggerated. " This root is held in 

 much esteem. There is none better, nor perhaps so good. When 

 first given it is slightly diuretic and laxative ; but as the horse 

 becomes accustomed to it, these effects cease to be produced. 

 Tiiey also improve the state of the skin. They form a good sub- 



