86 System at the Londonderry Collieries. 



At first sight this appears, and is really believed 

 to be a very economical rate of feeding, being 

 lower than Mr. Scott's expenditure at Hetton-le- 

 hole. Quality, however, is the test of cheapness, 

 not the price alone at which the food is supplied. 

 This allowance yields not more than 37'52 pounds 

 of nutritious matter assuming the one part of 

 peas are carefully added, which I have grave 

 reasons to doubt against 48'18 in Mr. Scott's 

 feed, in which 10' 6 ft Ibs. extra are supplied each 

 pay per horse during the year, for which he in- 

 curs a cost only of 9s. 9d., the difference per 

 horse per year. 



But, as in the case of the old system at Hetton- 

 le-hole, the animals do not derive the whole of 

 even this limited amount of benefit from the corn 

 allowed. In winter steamed food, consisting of 

 hay, linseed, and the one-fifth part of peas ab- 

 stracted from the mixture, are supplied. This is 

 sent down the pits during the afternoon, and 

 frequently before the animals reach the stable in 

 which the mess has been deposited by the horse- 

 keeper, I have found it undergoing fermentation. 

 Some, in fact many, of the animals refused it even 

 when fresh, and from these causes the most nutri- 

 tious portions were lost to them. 



The process of steaming was conducted at 

 separate places contiguous to a number of col- 

 lieries, and the food conveyed in boxes or coal- 

 tubs placed in carts, and throughout the distance 

 a dark-coloured fluid drained in profusion, of 



