ILLUSTRATED GUIDE. 169 



every day, or several times in the day, the sight would be 

 irreparably injured, or possibly blindness would ensue. 

 Can we wonder, then, that the horse, taken from a dark 

 stable into a olovv of light, feeling, probably, as we should 

 feel under similar circumstances, and unable for a consid- 

 erable time to see anything around him distinctly, should 

 become a starter, or that the frequently repeated violent 

 effect of sudden light should induce inflammation of the 

 eye so intense as to terminate in blindness? There is 

 indeed, no doubt that horses kept in dark stables are, 

 frequently notorious starters, and that abominable habit 

 has been traced to this cause. If plenty of light is admitted, 

 the walls of the stable, and especially that portion of them 

 which is before the horse's head, must not be of too tflarino* 

 a color. The color of the stable should depend on the 

 quantity of light. Where much can be admitted, the walls 

 should be of a gray hue ; when darkness would otherwise 

 prevail, frequent whitewashing may in some degree dissi- 

 pate the gloom. For another reason, it will be evident 

 that the stable should not possess too glaring a light ; it is 

 the resting place of the horse. The work of the farmer's 

 horse, indeed, is confined principally to the day. The hour 

 of exertion having passed, the animal returns to his stable 

 to feed, and to repose, and the latter is as necessary as the 

 former, in order to prepare him for renewed work. Some- 

 thing approaching to the dimness of twilight is requisite 

 to induce the animal to compose himself to sleep. This 

 half-light more particularly suits horses of heavy work. 

 In the quietness of a dimly lighted stable, they obtain 

 repose, and accumulate flesh and fat. 

 GKOOMING. 

 Of this, much need not be said to the agriculturist, 



