296 



cient. Potatoes should never be served to horses 

 raw, but should always be well boiled. In the former 

 condition they are productive of scouring, and are 

 highly dangerous ; when served in the latter way 

 they form a very safe, nutritious meal. When horses 

 are doing extra heavy work they should get fifteen 

 per cent, of beans amongst their oats, and whilst 

 we do not much approve of maize, twenty per cent, 

 added to the oats will generally reduce the cost of 

 feed very considerably. 



QUALITY OF FOOD. 



It is almost needless to impress upon readers the 

 necessity of using horse-feed only of the best quality. 

 Hay should be got green and free from dust and 

 mould. Inferior hay, which has been heated, is 

 generally full of dust, and when served to the horse 

 may produce an irritable cough which may easily lead 

 to a permanent defect in his wind. Hay that is dry 

 and brittle should also be avoided, as it is generally 

 deficient in nutrition, having been dried too much 

 before being stacked. Most of its feeding properties 

 have been evaporated into the atmosphere in conse- 

 quence of lying too long on the ground exposed to 

 the rays of the sun. 



The same remarks apply to oats, barley, beans, 

 and all other commodities with which the horse is 

 fed. Oats should always be given crushed. When 

 crushed they are more easily masticated, especially by 

 horses with bad teeth, and are consequently more 



