Book VII. MANAGEMENT OF FARM HORSES. 949 



have a little corn on the field, when working as long as there is day light, but none if they 

 work only five or six hours. [Sup. Enc. Brit. art. Agr.) 



6078. The feeding of farm horses is a subject of great agricultural importance, and has 

 excited considerable discussion among speculative agriculturists, who have generally 

 urged the great expenses attending it as an argument against horses, in favor of oxen. 

 Others, without preferring oxen to horses, have, instead of corn and hay, proposed to feed 

 them on roots, leaves, whins, and even haws from the hedges. The latter have been given 

 in large quantities by West, of Hampshire, and it is said (Com;;/e/e Farmer, art. Team.) were 

 found to answer. That horses as well as men may live on very inferior food is evident ; 

 but that either will be able to perform their work under such treatment, as well as if they 

 were properly nourished, is contrary to reason and experience. It is observed by the 

 judicious writer so often quoted, that horses can never perform their labor according to 

 the present courses of husbandry, on carrots, turnips, potatoes, or other roots alone, or 

 as their chief food. They will work and thrive on such food, but they will work as 

 much more, and thrive as much better with oats or beans in addition, as fully to repay 

 the difference in expense. One of the three meals a day, which farm horses usually 

 receive, may consist of roots ; and a few of them, every twenty-four hours, are highly 

 conducive to the health of the animals : but we haVe never had occasion to see any horse 

 work regularly throughout the year, in the way they are usually worked in the best 

 cultivated districts, without an allowance of at least an English peck of oats, or mixed 

 oats and beans, daily, less or more at particular periods, but rather more tlian this 

 quantity for at least nine months in the ye^r. 



6079. ]3row?i does not approve of giving much grain to young horses, thinking it expensive, and not so 

 conducive to their health as when they are supported on green food. In the winter and spring months, a 

 few turnips are eminently beneficial to young horses, by keeping their blood in good order, swelling their 

 bone, and hastening their growth. A plentiful supply of grass in summer ought always to be allowed, as their 

 condition through the winter depends greatly upon that circumstance. It is an object deserving of atten- 

 tion, that flesh once gained ought never to be lost, but that every animal whatever should be kept in a 

 progressive state of improvement, and not suffered to take a retrograde course, which afterwards must be 

 made up by extra feeding, or a loss be sustained, in a direct proportion to the degree of retrogradation 

 that has actually occurred. 



6080. The leanness of a farmer'' s working cattle, and their reluctant movements under this severe stimu- 

 lus, clearly marks his unprosperous condition. There are particular operations, indeed, such as turnip- 

 sowing, seeding, fallows, harvest work, &c., which require to be executed with so great dispatch, in our 

 variable climate, that unusual exertions are often indispensable. At these times, it is hardly possible, by 

 the richest food and the most careful treatment, to prevent the animals from loosing flesh, sometimes 

 even when their spirit and vigor are not perceptibly impaired. Such labors, however, do not continue 

 long, and should always be followed by a corresponding period of indulgence. It is particularly danger- 

 ous and unprofitable, to begin the spring labor with horses worn down by bad treatment during winter. 

 {.Sup. Sfc.) 



6081. Donaldson observes, that the coarse garbage with which farm horses are com- 

 monly stuffed, profitably or otherwise, is the real cause of the frequent occurrence 

 among them of blindness, grease, and colic ; more particularly the last, which, with 

 care, might be prevented from happening so frequently. The remedy lies in physic, 

 once or twice a-year ; either the regular aloetic dose, or salts given in pails of warm water, 

 or sulphur and cream of tartar ; one third of the latter mixed in the corn. All horses kept 

 in the stable become, more or less, internally loaded ; and it is an error, to suppose cart- 

 horses are not equally benefitted with others by purging physic. 



6082. Tlie cleaning and dressing of farm horses was fonnerly very little attended to ; 

 but at present its importance to the health of the animal is better understood. Donald- 

 son recommends that the heels, legs, bend of the knee, and hock, the twist under the 

 flanks ; in short, all parts out of sight, of cart-horses, whilst standing in the house, 

 should be kept perfectly free from dirt and scurf, and the skin supple ; the parts more 

 in sight will take care of themselves. In a deep country, it is much the better practice, 

 notwithstanding the prejudice to the contrary, to trim their legs coach-horse fashion. 

 It is now well understood, the editor of The Farmer s Magazine observes, that the liberal 

 use of the brush and the curry-comb twice a day ; frequent but moderate meals, con- 

 sisting of a due proportion of succulent joined to more solid food; abundance of fresh 

 litter, and great attention to method and cleanliness, are as indispensable in the stable 

 of a farmer (as far as is consistent with a just regard to economy), as they have always 

 been held to be in the treatment of horses kept for pleasure. Good dressing, with all 

 well-informed and attentive men, is considered to be no less necessary to the thriving 

 of the horses than good feedmg ; according to a common expression, it is equal to half 

 their food. 



6083. The general management of farm horses in the imjrroved districts of the norths 

 may be presented as a good example. There, for alx)ut four months in summer, horses 

 are fed on pastures ; or on clover and rye-grass, and tares cut green, and brought home 

 to the stable or fold-yard ; the latter method being by far the most economical and 

 advantageous. For the other eight months, they are kept on the straw of oats, beans, and 

 peas, and on clover and rye-grass hay. As soon as the grass fails towards the end of 

 autumn, they have hay for a few weeks, and when the days become so short as to allow 



