150 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. ti. 



being fattened, the oat is by most people 

 thought preferable, as being the cheapest ; but 

 the difference of price is made up in weight, 

 as barley is one-fourth heavier than oats, and 

 contains much less husk. Countrywomen in- 

 deed say, "that when fowls are fed solely 

 upon oats, the eggs are neither so large nor 

 so well flavoured ; and that when the hens are 

 being fattened, they require more time to 

 render them fit for the table than if fed on 

 barley." In both which assertions they are cor- 

 rect ; but Moubray asserts " that oats scour 

 them, and the chickens are generally tired of 

 them after a while." This, however, we beg 

 leave to contradict, as, in our own experience, 

 we have formerly fed large numbers from our 

 stable, upon oats only, both in this country 

 and in Germany, without observing any such 

 effect. We, however, have no doubt that 

 were the fowls supplied with other grain, they 

 would be pleased as well as benefited by the 

 change ; as a horse, though fed constantly 

 upon oats, likes a feed of beans or barley 

 when he can get it. 



As a constant food, we much prefer barley, 

 as being not only heavier, but as containing 



