68 NOTES FOR HUNTENG-MEN 



It is difficult to quite explain what I mean ; but if 

 you get a sample of really good old hunter hay, 

 and compare it with the fodder most farmers give 

 their cows, I think you will understand. The 

 latter is probably quite wholesome, but for animals 

 doing hard work absolutely innutritions. 



Straw is an important and expensive item in 



the forage account, especially in a grass countr3^ 



When I first came into Leicestershire I 



straw 



used to get a farmer to supply me with 

 straw at 35s. a ton, he taking back all the manure. 

 Moving to the neighbourhood of a town I had to 

 pay fifty to sixty shillings, and had considerable 

 difficulty in getting the dung-pit cleared, until I 

 started farming, and wanted the manure mj^self, 

 when I found there was a certain amount of com- 

 petition for it. 



Two trusses of 36 lbs. a week ought to do two 

 boxes comfortably, if well looked after ; but unless 

 your head groom is careful about having the 

 litter out in the morning, and well turned over 

 once or twice, this amount will not suffice. All 

 dung and thoroughly soiled portions should be 

 removed to the dung-pit ; but here again, unless 

 care is taken, much waste will ensue. Some men 

 will cast out a great deal of perfectly good litter, 

 as ycu will see by looking at many manure pits. 



Wheat straw is the best, and should be bright 



