qUAIJTITY OF FOOD. 87 



a small proportion of straw, cut into chaff, with 1 8 lbs. of oats, 

 and a pound or two of beans or peas, is reckoned a fair 

 allowance. Reynolds states that the weight of dry food abso- 

 lutely consumed by an average-sized, well-conditioned cart 

 horse, moderately worked, regularly fed, well housed, and 

 supplied with diet of good quality, is from 29 lbs. to 34 lbs. 

 daily, of which the hay and straw should constitute about two- 

 fifths. However nutritious the food may be, less than 29 lbs. 

 will not suffice to maintain the organs in healthy action. In a 

 stud of cart horses which he managed, the following was the 

 daily allowance : — Indian corn, 10 lbs. ; Egyptian beans or 

 Canadian peas, 5 lbs. ; oats, 2 lbs. ; oatmeal and linseed, 

 1*3 lb. ; bran, 2-1 lbs. ; hay, 10-6 lbs. ; roots and grass, 3 lbs. 



Maize, beans, or peas, with bran and cut hay, formed the 

 basis of the usual food allowance. The oats and linseed were 

 used only for sick or delicate-feeding horses. The oatmeal was 

 made into gruel, of which each horse was allowed a drink on 

 coming to his stable when the day's work was completed. 



The roots and grass were given during the months it was 

 considered advisable to use them. In autumn and winter the 

 corn was bruised and given raw, except a night feed of 

 steamed food three or more times a week. In spring and 

 summer the grain was steamed, but an occasional meal of dry 

 food was allowed as a change. A further change both in the 

 proportion and quantity of the grain given was also frequently 

 made, as conditions of weather or work appeared to indicate, 

 but the autumn allowance was always the most stimulative. 

 The bulk of the hay was given in the form of chop with the 

 corn, two or three pounds only being given in the rack the last 

 thing at night. In quality the best obtainable clover hay was 

 used. A small quantity of straw was sometimes chopped with 

 the hay. The horses were of average size, moderately worked 

 at equable and regular labour every day (25 per cent, were 

 also worked for about three hours each Sunday morning), and 

 their condition was good. 



