98 DIbfi SES OF ANIMALS. 



of moist food. Fodder should not be cut very short, as 

 some animals swallow it without chewing it well. In 

 such cases, the sharp ends of fodder have cut the intes- 

 tines so as to produce blood in the dung. From one and 

 a half to two and a half inches is short enough. Some 

 cut it two or three inches long. 



S0AKIN& Fodder. Some soak fodder from morning 

 till night, and the reverse, and prefer this to cutting. 

 It greatly promotes mastication and digestion. In this 

 case, it would be well to have stock in a cellar during 

 winter. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON FOOD AND FEEDING. 



When great labor is required, feed a horse on dry fod- 

 der, cut and moistened, and grain ground or cracked. 

 This is the best practice in this country and Europe. 

 When horses are heated, and pressed hard, without time 

 to rest, give them meal in soft, but not cold water. If the 

 horse has time to eat, give him moistened fodder. Grain 

 gives the horse strength, affording much nutriment to 

 support the wear of muscle under great exertion. But 

 for his health, he should occasionally have roots; or 

 feed these in very small quantities, if violent exertion is 

 required; and to slow working and idle horses, feed 

 them constantly. They keep the animal in better health 

 than grain ; they open the bowels, cool the blood, deter- 

 mine the secretions to the surface, render the skin loose, 

 and the hair smooth and glossy ; and besides the advan- 

 tage of keeping the horse in good condition, roots are a 

 cheaper food than grain. 



The food of a horse has great effect on diseases. 

 Wounds heal more kindly ; inflammatory diseases are 

 not so fatal, or are more easily cured ; and chronic dis- 

 orders frequently abate, or entirely disappear, under tlie 

 use of grass or other green herbage. But on such food, 

 his flesh is soft, he sweats more, and is sooner exhausted. 

 Such food is not suitable for horses at hard labor ; but it 

 will answer for slow, moderate work. 



When horses are first taken from grass, they shou d 

 be gradually accustomed to a dry diet, by giving them 

 laxative food, such as roots, mashes, clover hay, &c., 

 with their other fodder, which should be gradually 



