246 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



quently employed in it — a thing calculated to produce the 

 most terrible belly-ache, spasm.s, and gripes. If the pre- 

 sence of sulphur is suspected, a sample of the oats may 

 be rubbed hastily between the palms of the hands, and the 

 peculiar odour will at once betray itself. 



Beans are not much employed in Ireland as horse-food, 

 but in England they are very generally used. Egyptian 

 beans are the best ; they are usually mild, sweet, and 

 tender. Peas are excellent — so are potatoes — and tares 

 possess so many virtues that it is a wonder the use of them 

 is so generally confined to farm teams. Carrots are very 

 good when not given too freely. I approve of them highly 

 for aged horses, but should be cautious about dealing them 

 out too profusely to young blood ones. I like to see them 

 given whole, or chopped so fine that the horse cannot run 

 the risk of choking himself by swallowing them in lumps. 

 This applies to almost all species of roots when given raw. 

 For delicate feeders carrots are especially valuable ; they 

 give a peculiar relish to bran and other substances, and 

 cause such to be eagerly taken, even when rejected before. 



Now a word about hay. Upland hay is the best. It 

 may be known by the following marks : a perfectly clean 

 look, a bright colour, a distinctness of fibre, an absence of 

 dust, a pleasant fresh smell, a decided crispness, a scarcity 

 of weeds, and the presence of seeds in the stems. Delicacy 

 and cleanliness are its characteristics, and it is in every 

 w^ay immeasurably superior to lowland hay, which is tawny, 

 limp, strong smelling, and " woolly " to the touch. 



New hay of any kind is objectionable for feeding 



