216 REARING. 



milk lias any thing like the ordinary value attached to it, and if it 

 has to bo purchased, the cost is generally quite prohibitory of its 

 employment. 



Besides milky the following articles are employed in feeding 

 dogs, each of which will be sej^arately considered, as to price and 

 value. Of these, Indian meal is by far the best in proportion to 

 its price (being quite equal to anything but the very best wheat- 

 flour, which is perhaps slightly more nourishing), and, being so 

 much cheaper, is, on that account, to be preferred. It requires to 

 be mixed with oatmeal, in about equal proportions, or less of the 

 latter if the bowels are at all relaxed. The usual price of Indian 

 meal is about 10/. or 12/. per ton, half that of wheat and the same 

 as that of barley, to which it is greatly to be preferred, being far 

 less heating, and producing muscle in larger proportion. Oatmeal 

 is considerably dearer, though the grain itself is cheaper ; but the 

 quantity of meal obtained, owing to the amount of chaff, is so 

 small, that when this is got rid of the meal is necessarily sold at a 

 higher price, being from 12/. to 18/. per ton, according to the 

 season. But a much larger hulk of thick stuff, commonly called 

 " puddings," is produced by oatmeal than can be obtained from any 

 other meal in proportion to weight, the absorj^tion of water being 

 greater, and also varying in different qualities of oatmeal itself ; so 

 that, after all, this meal is not so expensive as it looks to be, when 

 comparing an equal weight of it with barley or Indian meal. The 

 real coarse Scotch oatmeal yields the greatest bulk of puddings, and 

 is to be preferred on that account ; besides which, it appears to agree 

 best with dogs, and altogether is a very superior article ; but in 



