324 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



in this case is boiled in water, and the whole is then allowed to stand until it 

 is sufficiently cool. The mash forms admirable feeding for a sick horse; it 

 keeps the bowels open, and is nutritive, without being heating. 



Wheat is rarely used for the feeding of the horse, the proper destination of 

 wheat being the food of man. The only case, in general, in which wheat, with 

 a regard to economy, can be applied to the feeding of the horse, is in that of 

 light wheat, which, being made into a mash, may be given to a sick horse in 

 the same manner as barley. 



Beans form an esteemed food for the horse. They are somewhat more 

 astringent than oats, and correct the tendency to laxativeness when it exists. 

 They should in all cases be bruised, and mixe'd with other farinaceous food. 



The pea is similar in its feeding properties to the bean, and is even supposed 

 to be more nutritive. It is, however, a dangerous food to be given in too great 

 quantity, from its tendency to swell in the stomach. It should, like the bean, 

 be bruised, and given along with other food. 



The details in the manner of feeding the farm-horse necessarily differ ac- 

 cording to the practices of different districts. The following is a system, sim- 

 ple, efficient, and capable of being reduced to practice upon every farm: 



When the pastures, or other green food, fail in autumn, which will gene- 

 rally be by the beginning of October, the horses are to be put on hard food. 

 They should receive at this period an allowance of hay at the rate of 20 Ibs. in 

 the day, with 2 gallons of oats; or, in place of a portion of the oats, they may 

 receive at night a feed of steamed food, consisting of potatoes, or any other 

 roots, mixed with a little corn, and seasoned with salt. The whole quantity 

 may be a perk, weighing about 121bs. The quantity of potatoes that corresponds 

 in nourishment with oats, is in the proportion of about 15 Ibs. of raw potatoes 

 to 1 gallon of oats. 



In the months of November. December, and January, when the days and 

 the time of labour are short, the hay may be withdrawn, and the horses, in 

 place of it, fed on straw, of which the best, when it can be obtained, is that of 

 oeans or peas. Next to these in quality is that of oats. The straw of wheat 

 and barley is in this country only used as litter, though, were it to be cut into 

 chaff, it could be advantageously used as fodder. 



At this time the horses should receive 2 gallons of oats in the day; or the 

 quantity of oats may be diminished, and a portion of steamed food given at 

 night. They should receive, as before, two feeds, one in the morning before 

 going to work, and one at mid-day, and their steamed food at night. By the 

 beginning of February, they should again be put on hay, in preparation for 

 their harder work in spring. At or before the time of sowing the oats, that 

 being the commencement of the season of active labour, the horses should re- 

 ceive their full allowance of 3 gallons of oats in the day, or, in place of a por- 

 tion of their dry oats, a corresponding allowance of steamed food. They should 

 be fed three times in the day, a feed of oats being given in the morning, a feed 

 at mid-day between the intervals of work, and at night they may either receive 

 their third feed of dry oats, or a corresponding quantity of steamed food mixed 

 with their oats. 



They are to receive this full allowance of hay and corn until about the be- 

 ginning of June, when they may receive green food, on which they are fed 

 during the remainder of the season, their daily allowance of oats being reduced 

 to 1 gallon. 



Three methods of feeding them on green food may be adopted: they may 

 be turned out to pasture in the fields; they may have green forage cut and 

 brought home to them in the yards or stalls; or they maybe fed in the intervals 

 of work on green food, and turned out in the evening to the fields to pasture. 



When the first of these methods is adopted, that is, when the horses are 

 simply pastured, they are merely turned out to the field at night after work; 

 they are caught again, or driven home to the stables, in the morning, and then 

 again turned out after the morning's work, which may be about 10 o'clock, and 

 allowed to feed till the afternoon's work, which may begin about 1 o'clock; 

 they are then caught and again set to work. 



The defects of this mode of management are apparent. Time is lost in taking 

 the animals to and from the field during the intervals of work; and then, having- 



