FOODS AND FEEDING. 99 



enhanced, indeed to such an extent is this the case that in India it is 

 often found possible to keep animals in sufficiently good condition while 

 they are doing exercise with little or no addition to this food. 



Characteristics of Bran. 



Good bran should be quite dry, and sweet, flaky, free from lumps, and How to 

 varying slightly in colour according to the wheat from which it is obtained, judge, 

 some samples being redder than others. When chewed it should not 

 taste sour or gritty, and when the hand is plunged into it, it should be 

 perceptibly covered with flour on withdrawal. 



Occasionally adulteration with sand, barley or rice hulls may be Adultera- 

 detected, the first by throwing a sample into water when it will sink, and tions, how 

 also by chewing a small quantity, and the two latter by close inspection of ^^ detect, 

 the individual flakes, when the roughness of the barley or rice husks will 

 be observed. When bran is hand-made on an earthy floor it is difficult 

 to avoid some sandy particles. 



Under the influence of damp bran rapidly becomes sour and lumpy. Sour bran, 

 and this is the most common defect to be looked for in English samples. 



Feediitg Bran. — As previously stated bran can only be regarded as a Feeding 

 work-producing food if it contains a good proportion of flour, and this is bran, 

 not to be looked for at home — it is however valuable as an adjunct to the 

 grain ration (i) in order to ensure mastication ; (2) to increase bulk ; (3) to 

 mix with very heating foods, and so enable the digestion to cope with them 

 without being upset. Given as a mash it is generally supposed to be a 

 slight laxative and to produce the opposite efl'ect when dry. A bran mash Bran 

 should be made by scalding about 2 to 3 pounds of bran in a bucket with mash, 

 boiling water, it should then be covered and allowed to stand until cool 

 enough to eat ; the addition of a little salt makes it palatable. 



Beans and Peas. 



These grains are by far the most nutritious of any given to " Heat- 

 animals, containing as they do an exceedingly large proportion of flesh- ing" food, 

 forming elements ; but owing to this fact they are very " heating " foods, 

 which cannot be given in large quantities under any circumstances, 

 and are not advisable at all unless the animals receiving them are 

 performing a considerable amount of hard work or undergoing exposure. 



Characteristics. 

 Beans should be hard and dry, sweet to taste, light brown in colour. Appear- 

 and free from weevil ; they should weigh about 64 pounds a bushel, ^nces. 

 (B 10948) 02 Weight. 



