THE HORSE. 



91 



him to be very laxative. In Holland, and many 

 parts of Germany and Norway, it is made into a 

 black bread, v^ith which the horses are fed. 



INDIAN CORN 



Is much used as a horse-food in this country, and 

 in various parts of Europe. Cobbett recommended 

 its introduction, and among its other uses, spoke of 

 horse-feeding. 



RYE 



Is used in Germany, but generally in the shape of 

 bread made from the whole flour and bran ; and it 

 is not unusual, in travelling through some parts of 

 that country, and of Holland, to see the postillions 

 help themselves and their horses from the same 

 loaf.* 



BEANS 



There are several varieties of the bean in use asr 

 horse-food, but I do not know that one is better than 

 another. The small plump bean is preferred to the 

 large shrivelled kind. Whichever be used, the beans 

 should be old, sweet and sound. New beans are in- 

 dio-estible and flatulent ; they produce cohc, and 

 founder very readily. They should be at least a 

 year old. Beans are often ill-harvested ; and when 

 musty or mouldy, though quite sweet internally, 

 horses do not like them. They are often attacked 

 by an insect which consumes much of the flour, and 

 destroys the vitality of the rest. The ravages of the 

 insect are plain enough. The bean is excavated, 

 light, brittle, and bitter tasted. A few m this state 

 may do no harm; but when the beans are generally 

 infected, it is not likely that they are eaten with im^ 

 » British Husbandr)-,, vol. i., p. 146. 



