Paddocks and Pastures. 19 



suitable subsoil and elevation, which are best calculated to 

 produce the strong tough hoofs, ivory like bone, and lean 

 muscular body of the equine racing machine. 



The absolutely perfect horse pasture is so extremely 

 rare that it may be said not to exist. The finer 

 grasses may be present in great force, as also the coarser 

 kinds, but the soil favours the latter, and gradually the 

 finer grasses will be ousted. The influence of soil on 

 herbage is a fact so well known to all whose work lies with 

 live stock of any description as scarcely to need mention. 

 In one enclosure, all the species of grass beloved by horses 

 will be found in great profusion, while just over the divid- 

 ing hedgerow they are conspicuous by their absence. Nay, 

 is it not frequently the case that one end of a paddock is 

 as different " as chalk from cheese " to the other as regards 

 its herbage? The agricultural chemist would quickly 

 ascertain, and state, the scientific reason for this, and, given 

 a free hand as regards expense, could in a few years bring 

 every paddock on a given stud farm, up to one standard, 

 and that standard would be perfection. But although the 

 chemistry of the soil and its kindred studies may be a 

 closed book to the average stud groom, there are still many 

 ways in which he can strive to prevent deterioration in his 

 paddocks, be they good, bad, or indifferent. Indeed, with 

 perseverance and judgment, he need not despair of even 

 bringing about an improvement. It would be an error, how- 

 ever, to suppose that the constituency of the soil is the key 

 to the grass problem. Unskilful management of the grass 

 on really ideal soil will soon reduce it to the condition of 

 the herbage growing on soil of the very lowest grade. 



Unless he has " eyes that see not," every stud groom 

 knows that to such a discriminating feeder as the horse, 

 all is not grass that is green. He is familiar with the 



