STABLES AND STABLE MANAGEMENT 111 



exceptional peculiarities in their mouths. Unless the 

 former owner has used one, we do not recommend the 

 purchaser to do so. 



We may add that for cleaning the leather of saddlery, 

 common yellow household soap should be used, and 

 not soft soap nor any of the countless concoctions sold 

 by saddlers for the purpose. It may be argued that 

 we are severe upon saddlers. We are justly severe 

 upon local saddlers, whose goods are generally made to 

 be sold, not to be used. The master should tell both 

 the groom and the saddler that he forbids the latter 

 giving the former any commission on the saddlery bill, 

 on pain of withdrawing his custom and dismissing the 

 groom ; for these commissions are a direct encourage- 

 ment to the groom to cheat his master. 



We must now consider the important point of forage 

 for the corn bill is necessarily one of the largest items 

 in stabling expenses. We think it the most convenient 

 plan to divide forage as follows : 



1. Hay. 



2. Oats. 



3. Straw. 



4. Bran. 



5. Beans, peas. 



6. Linseed. 



7. Carrots and green forage, etc. 



1. Hay should be natural hay in good condition, 

 and, at least, be six months, if possible twelve, 

 months old before it is given to hunters. 

 It is sometimes sold by the load, some- 



