402 HANDT-BOOK OP HUSBANDRY. 



" and viciousness. Fourth. Previous to putting her to the horse, 

 " she should be brought into the most perfect state of health, not 

 " overfed, or loaded vi^ith fat, or in a pampered state, but by judi- 

 " cious exercise and an abundance of nutritious food and proper 

 "grooming, she should be in the very best condition. Fifth. 

 "During gestation she should have generous and nourishing, 

 " but not heating diet. For the first three or four months she 

 " may be worked moderately, and even to within a few weeks 

 " of her foaling she may do light work with advantage to her 

 " system." 



The treatment of farm teams is a matter of great consequence to 

 the farmer; for the same principle which requires that the driver 

 of the steam-engine should keep every part of his machine well 

 oiled and in good adjustment, and that he should keep his boiler 

 well supplied with fuel and with water, should actuate the farmer 

 in keeping this most valuable and really expensive assistant to his 

 labors in efficient condition by careful grooming, judicious feeding, 

 and attentive oversight. 



Very much of the value and availability of the horse depends on 

 the quality and quantity of his food, and on the manner in which it is 

 given to him. Too much food at one time, too little at another, 

 food of improper kinds or in a bad state of preparation, is the 

 foundation of one-half the ills that horse-flesh is heir to. There 

 is no worse economy than the stinting of food, or the administer- 

 ing of bad food because it is cheap. Also, there is no more 

 wasteful practice than the giving of too rich and expensive food. 

 Neither is there any greater source of loss in connection with the 

 keeping of farm-horses, than the neglect to which they are system- 

 atically subjected. The horse, even in the rudest state, is of a 

 somewhat delicate organization. His powers are very great, — 

 greater than is generally supposed ; — but in order to their develop- 

 ment and to their long endurance, it is necessary that he be fed 

 with the greatest care and with an ever-watchful judgment. 

 Probably the capital invested in farm-horses in the United States 

 would go twice as far ; that is, the animals would last in a useful 



I 



