BREEDS OF HORSES G7 



ments in the British Army, it was found that when allowed to choose, 

 horses drank about one-fourth of their daily allowance in the morn- 

 ing, about three-eighths at noon, and about the same proportion at 

 night. The proper time to water horses is a matter considering which 

 opinions differ. Many feeders believe that they should be watered be- 

 fore feeding, while others are equally certain that feeding should pre- 

 cede the watering. Some recent experiments made in Europe tend 

 to show that the time of drinking has no effect on the digestibility 

 of a ration of hay and grain. When only hay was fed there seemed 

 to be a slight advantage of watering before feeding. In the experi- 

 ments referred to, it was found that whenever a change was made 

 from the plan of watering after feeding to that of watering before, 

 the appetite fell off for some days. A similar effect was not observed 

 when the reverse change was made. It seems best, therefore, to 

 avoid any unnecessary changes in the methods of watering. (Agr. 

 Dept. F. B. 170.) 



Corn. Next to oats corn may be considered the most popular 

 grain for horses in this country. It is so commonly used especially 

 in the South and West that it is difficult to realize the prejudice 

 existing against it in other countries. It is perhaps to be expected 

 that a corn ration would be most popular where the most corn is pro- 

 duced, that is in the corn producing belt of the United States. Gen- 

 erally speaking, corn is among the cheapest of grains used for horse 

 food, and consequently the most economical feeder is one who knows 

 how to make the best use of this grain. (111. B. 141.) 



FEEDING HORSES. 



Horses and mules when pastured exclusively on Alsike pasture 

 have in some instances become infected with a disease which consists 

 for the most part of sores and ulcers breaking out on the skin and 

 mucus-membrane of the mouth and eyes. This disease has been 

 noted most in the southern part of the Mississippi Valley. The pre- 

 cise cause has as yet not been ascertained. (Tenn. Vol. XVIII. 

 No. 3.) 



Yearling colts fed a part ration of peanut and coconut meal 

 showed somewhat larger and cheaper gains than those fed on oats, 

 and those fed peanut and coconut meal with roughage made the best 

 returns. (Dep. Agr. Bureau Animal Industry Cir. 168.) 



As a food for horses, this food seems to have a considerable 

 value, but it is notably deficient in palatability ; it is hardly to be 

 considered among the desirable horse concentrates. (Ind. B. 97.) 



The results of many trials of various rations for farm work 

 horses have shown quite conclusively that corn and oats either 

 ground or unground constitute one of the safest and most satisfac- 

 tory rations. A mixture of corn and bran equal parts by weight 

 make a good substitute for corn and oats. 



Some feeding experiments at the Florida Station tend to show 

 that southern work horses fed ten pounds of corn and ten to fourteen 

 pounds of hay improved when sweet potatoes were substituted for 

 one half of the corn ration. The substitution being at the rate of 

 three pounds of sweet potatoes for one of corn. Carrying the com- 



