270 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



mal up to the normal condition. The price at which these patent 

 foods are sold makes them extremely expensive to the consumer, 

 and the profits that accrue from their sale are great. Yet if one 

 has a horse that is out of condition it may be profitable to buy a 

 package of this food. 



Hay and forage. — The kinds of forage or hay that are avail- 

 able for horse-feeding are as numerous as the grains, and vary 

 about as widely in their composition. Forage on the average 

 contains only about one-half of the energy value of grain. It 

 differs from grain in that it contains more water and more crude 

 fiber. 



Timothy hay. — Although not particularly rich in digestible 

 nutrients timothy is the standard hay for horse-feeding. There 

 are many reasons for its popularity : It can be grown success- 

 fully in nearly all localities and is the principal market hay; 

 it is difficult to adulterate mth other grasses or weeds without 

 detection; it is relished by horses; it is free from dust, all of 

 which conditions commend good timothy hay as a horse food. 



Clover. — This hay has not been held in high esteem as a for- 

 age for horses. The reasons are obvious. It is generally loaded 

 with dust, and this is often hard to prevent. This can be over- 

 come in large measure by moistening the hay before feeding. 

 When bright and clean it is a very valuable food for the horse, 

 especially for the young and growing colt, as it is rich in pro- 

 tein and mineral matter ; in fact, it makes a better ration than 

 timothy when fed in limited quantities. 



Alfalfa hay. — This hay belongs to the same natural family as 

 clover hay and meets with similar objections. It is likely to be 

 dusty, especially when grown in regions of considerable rainfall. 

 It seems certain that alfalfa fed in limited quantities will prove 

 as efficient as timothy to the slow-going draft horse. Horses are 

 very fond of alfalfa, and it is necessary to guard against feeding 

 an over-supply. Like clover, there is no better forage for the 

 young and growing colt. 



Corn stalks. — Dry corn stalks that have been cured in the 

 shock are sometimes fed as a substitute for hay. Experiments 

 and experience have shown that in the fall before the leaves are 

 leached it is as valuable as timothy hay, pound for pound con- 

 sumed. The stalks cost only one-third as much as the timothy 

 and therefore they prove much more economical. 



Straw. — The straw of the various cereal grains is sometimes 

 fed to the horse as part of his roughage. "WHiile the straw has 

 some value, the horse requires much more grain when hay is 



