MAINrENAxNCE OF ANIMALS. 401 



dicated for a few days, the teams were weighed once, and again 



after an interval of twenty-four hours : 



Team No. 1. No. 2. Both teams. Mean per horse. 



First weighing 4617.8 4461 9079.4 1134.9 



Second weighing 4554.0 4334 8888.0 1111.0 



In 24 hours loss 63.8 127 191.4 23.9 



The loss experienced here authorized me to conclude, that the al- 

 lowance under the circumstances was not sufficient. The 30.8 lbs. 

 of steamed potatoes could not have adequately replaced the 11 lbs. 

 of hay ; it would have been highly interesting to have ascertained 

 how horses kept on the standard and usual allowance would have 

 stood the same amount of fatigue. Unfortunately this comparison 

 could not be made, all the horses in the stable having been put on 

 the potato regimen at the same time. There is this much to be said 

 for the particular course tried, however, that the animals did their 

 work with great spirit, and continued in excellent health. 



EXPERIMENT II. 



INTRODUCTION OF JERUSALEM POTATOES INTO THE RATION. 



Jerusalem potatoes are held excellent food for the horse ; they are 

 eaten greedily, and he thrives on them. In this second experiment, 

 SOjoths lbs. of Jerusalems cut into slices were substituted for 11 

 lbs. of hay, the same theoretical equivalents being assumed for them 

 as for the common potato. The ration now consisted of: 



Hay . . . .11 lbs. 



Straw ... 5^ 



Oats . . . . tJ 



Jerusalem potatoes . 30.8 



Having been accustomed to this regimen for some days, the 

 teams were weighed, and having gone on for eleven days they were 

 weighed again : 



Team No. 1. No. 2. Both teams. Means per horse. 



First weighing 4556 3245 8901 1112.7 



Second weighing 4611 3412 8923 1113.6 



In 11 days gain 55 loss 33 gain 22 gain 0.9 



A result which leads to the conclusion, that the equivalent as- 

 sumed for the Jerusalem potato was correct ; the animals had done 

 their work, and gained, one with another, j^ths of a pound in 

 weight. 



EXPERIMENT III. 



RATION OF HAY AND POTATOES. 



Eleven pounds of hay, in the usual allowance, were replaced by 

 30.8 lbs. of potatoes ; the whole of the oats and straw, by 15.4 lbs. 

 of hay. These substitutions were made upon the supposition, that 

 100 of hay was equivalent to 280 of potatoes, to 50 of oats, and to 

 620 of straw. The ration, then, was composed as follows : 



Hay 26.6 lbs. 



Potatoes 30.8 " 



34* 



