OF LIVE STOCK. 133 



food, (the nature and expence of which will be afterwards 

 more 'fully detailed), has been found the greatest improve- 

 ment hitherto tried in the feeding of these animals ; and, 

 indeed, -it is justly accounted one of the most important 

 discoveries that has been made in agriculture. Bruising 

 oats or beans, a practice to be afterwards explained, is 

 likewise much to be recommended. 



t 

 2. Expence of keeping. This varies according to the size 



and value of the horse, and the work required of him. In 

 Caithness, the average expence is computed at L.20 per 

 annum; in the Mearns at L.24; a respectable farmer, 

 near Arbroath, makes the expence L.27. Mr Blair of 

 Montague, near Perth, keeps his horses on cut grass, from 

 the 4th June, until about the middle of October ; an occasion- 

 al feed of oats is given when driving lime : for other two 

 months, hay, and a feed of potatoes are given. During the 

 short days in winter, good oat straw is substituted for hay ; 

 and as the days begin to lengthen in spring, hay is again 

 allowed. Potatoes are then given, and one feed of oats j 

 and when oat seed, and two yokings are begun, two feeds 

 of oats are given with potatoes, as before. The above feed- 

 ing, he estimates at 1 Is. per week, or L. 28, 12s. per annum. 

 In the county of Wigton, the expence of keeping horses 

 has been estimated as low as L.I 5 ; but it is admitted, that 

 a good farm-horse, properly kept, and fully wrought, will 

 cost about L.25 yearly. Mr Stewart of Hillside, in Dum- 

 fries-shire, calculates the expence at L. 17 : 15 : 2 per 

 horse.* It is proper, however, to remark, that in these 



* It would require too much room, to enter into the details of all 

 these estimates. In remote parts of the country, less work is exacted 

 from horses, and consequently less food is given them. 



