HORSES. 95 



ROOTS. 



Potatoes, both raw and cooked, are a gooc food for 

 horses. They are rather laxative, especially raw. In 

 large quantities, raw, they are apt to produce colic in 

 horses not accustomed to them. They are in some 

 measure a substitute for grain, in horses accustomed to 

 slow work, and they are better than grain to keep idle 

 horses in an healthy state ; but for horses accustomed to 

 speed and violent exertion, this food is not sufficiently 

 solid. A very few may be given at night, or a moderate 

 mess on Saturday night, when the horse is allowed to 

 rest on Sunday. They prevent costiveness. 



Turnips are much used in England as food of farm 

 and cart-horses. Ruta-bagas are best. The white are 

 poor. For slow workers, turnips, to a moderate extent, 

 supersede grain ; but for fast workers, they are a substi- 

 tute for hay. They are better cooked. Turnips produce 

 a good skin, and a smooth, shining coat. It is best to 

 give them at night. 



Carrots are probably the best roots for horses. When 

 first given they are slightly laxative and diuretic, but in a 

 short time these effects abate. They improve the condi- 

 tion of the skin. They are a good alterative for horses 

 out of condition. To sick and idle horses they render 

 grain unnecessary. They are good in diseases of the 

 skin ; and they are very useful in chronic cough and bro- 

 ken x\and. They are excellent in restoring a worn-down 

 horse. Carrots are fed raw. They should be washed 

 and sliced. For slow working horses they answer in- 

 stead of grain. One bushel of oats and one of carrots 

 are considered equal to two bushels of oats. Horses 

 like carrot-tops, and they are considered wholesome. 



Parsnips are much used in France as horse feed. In 

 some places they are used for fattening all kinds of 

 stock. It is said that they injure the eyes of horses, but 

 this is not well established, as in some parts they are 

 used extensively, without this effect. Parsnips are used 

 raw and boiled. Their leaves, in good condition, are 

 eaten as readily as clover. 



Beets, Artichokes, Vegetable Oysters, and other 

 roots, have been but little used for horses. 



