FOODS AND FEEDING. 97 



which would squeeze an oat flat. When the hand mill {chuckle) which 

 is commonly used in India, has to be employed for this purpose an extra 

 weight should be placed on the top of the upper stone in order to increase 

 its power. 



Pa.rchi}ig Barley. — This is a very favourite method of preparation Parching 

 wherever barley is fed. When properly carried out the result is that the barley, 

 husk is just split and the contents become softer and of a floury consistence. 

 The method usually adopted is as follows — a small quantity of sand is made, 

 and kept, almost red hot on the fire, a little of this and a handful of barley 

 are thrown together in a flat pan which is also kept hot and the two are 

 stirred together until it is seen that each individual grain shows a white 

 line down its centre where the husk is split ; sand and grain are then 

 transferred to a small sieve through which the sand runs and is placed in 

 another receptacle to be re-heated. The grain may subsequently be 

 ground if desired, but unless the means are to hand it will be found 

 perfectly digestible without this being done. 



Brewers' grains, " draff," the refuse of malt after brewing, which may Brewers' 

 be obtained either fresh or desiccated, is occasionally given to horses and f,'"^^"?' „ 

 much relished by them ; as a change of diet, or as an occasional addition "draff. 

 to tempt the appetite they may be recommended, but as a general ration 

 for army horses liable to be called upon to perform severe fast work they 

 are unsuitable. They should be quite fresh, and given without delay, as 

 they rapidly get sour. 



Rye. 



Rye forms a large portion of the ration of many animals in Denmark, Rye. 

 Belgium and Sweden ; in Russia rye flour is given horses as a corn 

 ration, and is fed to horses in America in smaller proportion. It is A poor 

 inferior to oats, and in countries where it is fed as a general ration it is horse 

 stated to be given coarsely ground or cooked and mixed with chaff. In foo<i- 

 large quantities it is said to cause diarrhoea, and it rapidly ferments 

 and becomes unfit for food if allowed to stand long after cooking. 

 This grain is extremely liable to suffer from the growth of the ergot 

 fungus, which may be recognised as a small body about half an inch long 

 and of a purplish black colour. Asa horse food on service it should Use under 

 not except under pressure of necessity, be fed alone as a whole ration, necessity, 

 but mixed with any other forage available. 



Rice. 



In Burmah and the rice-growing districts of India, notably Bengal Rice, 

 and Assam, horses are fed on unhusked rice (paddy), and though it is "paddy." 

 (b 10948) G 



