FOOD. 141 



ing into the stables of their horsOvS, and with manifest advantage. 

 There has been no loss of condition or power, and considerable 

 saving of provender. This system is not however, calculated 

 for the hunter, or the race-horse. Their food must lie in smaller 

 bulk, in order that the action of the lungs may not be impeded 

 by the distention of the stomach ; yet many hunters have gone 

 well over the field who have been manger-fed, the proportion 

 of grain, however, being materially increased. 



For the agricultural and cart-horse, eight pounds of oats, and 

 two of beans should be added to every tvrenty pounds of cut 

 feed. Thirty-four or thirty-six pounds of the mixture will be 

 sufficient for any horse of moderate size, with fair, or even hard, 

 work. The dray and wagon horse may require forty pounds. 

 Hay in the rack at night is, in this case, supposed to be alto- 

 gether omitted. The rack, however, may remain, as occasion- 

 ally useful for the sick horse, or to contain green feed. 



Horses are very fond of this provender. The great majority 

 of them, after having become accustomed to it, will leave the 

 best oats given to them alone, for the sake of the mingled cut 

 feed and grain. The farmer should be cautioned, however, 

 not to set apart damaged hay for the manufacture of the 

 cut feed. The horse may thus be induced to eat that which he 

 Avould otherwise refuse, and if the nourishing property of the 

 hay has been impaired, or it has acquired an injurious principle, 

 tlie animal v/ill either lose condition, or become diseased. Much 

 more injury is done by eating damaged hay, or musty oats, than 

 is generally imagined. There will be sufficient saving in the 

 diminished cost of the provender by the introduction of the 

 straw and the improved condition of the horse, without poison- 

 ing him with the refuse of the farm. For old horses, and for 



