Advantages of proper Food and System. 47 



and ventilation of the stables, these animals re- 

 tained their health and usefulness for years. 

 Among them was a celebrated mare, " Old Sal." 

 She ran in one of the above coaches as " off 

 wheeler " for years, was known by all upon the 

 road, had never been sick a single day, and when 

 railways revolutionized the system of transit was 

 over twenty years of age, and even then " as fresh 

 as paint." 



When the fly-boats plied between Glasgow and 

 Edinbro' on the Forth and Clyde Canal, an old 

 mare named " Maggie Lauder," was stationed to 

 run between Port Dundas and Glasgow Bridge, a 

 distance of eight miles, the time allowed being 

 one hour. After a rest of one hour the return 

 journey to Port Dundas was made, and in the 

 afternoon she performed the whole distance over 

 again, thus travelling and drawing the boat 

 thirty-two miles per day. 



The person from whom I obtained my infor- 

 mation rode the animal daily for seven years, 

 during which time she was doing the work 

 alluded to six days in the week, " was never sick 

 nor sorry a single day, nor ever had a day's rest 

 in addition to the usual Sunday." 



When the boats were superseded by railways, 

 " Maggie Lauder " was sold at the age of twenty- 

 nine years. 



A similar instance is related of a horse em- 

 ployed in like manner on the Paisley canal. He 

 was sold at the age of twenty -seven when the 



