660 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



After securing regular feeding as to time and amount, we 

 should notice that the hours of feeding and drinking are not too 

 far apart. The practice of feeding at four o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, then at twelve, and not again until dark, which means in the 

 season when tending crops until eight o'clock, places so heavy 

 a tax on the vitality of the farm horses that they are fit sub- 

 jects for any ailment, while the farmer who thus feeds considers 

 himself fortunate if his teams pull through the season without 

 sickness or death. 



The stomach of the horse is small, and nature has designed 

 it for short periods between rations. The horse in a twelve- 

 months can do more work and at less risk from disease if the 

 times between feeding be shortened. The rule on some of the 

 best regulated farms is to feed at five, at twelve, and at six in 

 the evening. On other farms the teams are fed at 4, 11.30, 

 and 7.30. Now, the strain on the farm team is cruelly severe. 

 We need a reform. No one schedule of times will suit all, but 

 economy and reason and kindness all demand a change. Our 

 farm teams suffer greatly by these long intervals between feed 

 and water, especially as the work is severe and taxing. 



AAfhat to Feed. While horses are at hard work for so 

 many hours, it is clear that the feed must be very nourishing. 

 It is force and not fat we need now. Hence oats is better than 

 corn alone, but we find that clean oats and sound corn, half and 

 half, give better results than either fed alone. All the clean 

 timothy hay he will eat may be given to the farm horse when 

 worked many hours, but as a usual thing the farm horse gets 

 too much hay. He feels better, does better, with less hay and 

 some grain, even when not at work, and this is especially true 

 in winter. Timothy hay is considered best, not because it con- 

 tains more elements of nutrition than clover or hungarian, or 

 orchard grass, but because it is more easily cured and has less 

 dust or mold in it. If clover hay can be had free from dust, 

 or can be cut and mixed damp with ground feed, it will be found 

 equal to any other feed as a producer of strength and fiber. 



If the horses can not have green grass once or twice a week, 

 they should have a bran mash instead. But as hired help will 



