74 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



external aspect hay, oats, wheat, maize, barley, rice, rye, and 

 millet may appear, yet they all belong to the genus grami- 

 nacce, though there are plants generally regarded as grasses as 

 the clovers and sainfoin which in reality do not belong to 

 them. The grasses, notwithstanding their wide geographical 

 distribution, are remarkably uniform in structure, the greatest 

 diversity being in their height ; though it may be noted that 

 the British grasses are only annual, while those of warm 

 climates are often perennial. 



Hay. Grass and dried grass, or hay, represent a typical 

 food for the horse, upon which he can subsist, become fat, and 

 even perform a certain amount of slow work without any 

 other kind of subsistence. Grasses are divided into natural 

 and artificial. The former are time grasses, and the artificial 

 include the clovers, sainfoin, lucerne, etc. plants which are 

 really not grasses. The natural grasses comprise upland, 

 meadow, and water-meadow grass ; though this is rather an 

 arbitary division, as many grasses which grow on uplands are 

 also to be found in meadows. The soil upon which the grasses 

 grow considerably influences their value for feeding purposes ; 

 on rich soils the pastures are more permanent, but the produce 

 is better for rearing and feeding animals ; but on poor, light 

 soil the grass is difficult to maintain, and indifferently 

 nutritious. 



Grass in its natural state is not usually given to horses in 

 the United Kingdom, as it is more convenient and useful to 

 give it in a dried condition i.e., converted into hay; for 

 though in warmer climates horses can perform a fair amount 

 of work on it, yet here it has not the same amount of suste- 

 nance, and if it is young is liable to act as a laxative or 

 purgative. 



Water-meadow hay is not good for horses, and contains 

 aquatic plants. Of the meadow and upland hay, the latter is 

 considered the best. It is short, fine, has a pleasant odour 



