146 FOOD. 



When barley is given, the quantity should not exceed a peck 

 daily. It shonld always be bruised, and the chaff should con- 

 sist of equal quantities of hay and barley-straw, and not cut too 

 short. If the farmer has a quantity of spotted or unsalable 

 barley that he wishes thus to get rid of, he mast accustom his 

 horses to it very gradually, or he will probably produce serious 

 illness among them. For horses that are recovering from illness, 

 barley, in the form of malt, is often serviceable, as tempting the 

 appetite and recruiting the strength. It is best given in mashes 

 — water, considerably below the boiling heat, being poured upon 

 it, and the vessel or pail kept covered for half an hour. 



Grain, fresh from the mash-tub, either alone or mixed with 

 oats or chaff, or both, may be given occasionally to horses of slow- 

 draught ; they would, however, afford very insufficient nourish- 

 ment for horses of quicker or harder work. 



Wheat is more rarely given than barley. It contains nine 

 hundred and fifty-five parts of nutritive matter. When farmers 

 have a damaged or unmarketable sample of wheat, they some- 

 times give it to their horses, and, it being at first used in small 

 quantities, they become accustomed to it, and thrive and work 

 well ; it should, however, always be bruised, and given in chaff. 

 Wheat contains a greater portion o^ gluten, or sticky, adhesive 

 matter, than any other kind of grain. It is difficult of diges- 

 tion, and apt to cake and form obstructions in the bowels. This 

 will more often be the case, if the horse is suffered to drink 

 much water soon after feeding upon it. 



Fermentation, colic, and death, are occasionally the conse- 

 quence of eating any great quantity of wheat. A horse that is 

 fed on it, should have very little hay. The proportion should 

 not be more than one truss of hay to two of straw. Wheat or 



