68 HORSE PORTRAITURE. 



colts with it, but it has a useful duty to perform in giving 

 us the true time, by which we can regulate our watches, 

 and see that they do not mislead us in the division of our 

 time or the speed of the colts, when they have become so 

 fast that a fraction of a second is of importance. The 

 source of the spring being higher than the house, we have 

 conveyed it there in pipes, giving a plentiful amount of 

 pure water. From its abundance, we supply the fountain 

 in the green-room. The fruit and kitchen garden has 

 been removed to the rear of the conservatory. The barn 

 is back of this, and a little further east ; approaching the 

 house from which we conveniently reach it under cover 

 of the wood and carriage houses. The sunny yard for 

 the colts is not the only one, there being several separated 

 by close board fences, the boxes of the brood mares open- 

 ing into them, and one is for the use of the cattle, the 

 gazelle-eyed Alderneys predominating. 



Beyond the yards there is an opening in the heavy 

 timber, of several acres, which had been planted to fruit 

 trees : but the rabbits reveled there, and it was never re- 

 planted till the present season. They are growing finely, 

 and have been protected from future attacks by a wire 

 fence, the meshes so closely interwoven, that the rabbits will 

 be compelled to satisfy their taste for bark with the hazels 

 and sumachs outside. Now that we have noticed the im- 

 provements to beautify and make comfortable our home, 

 we will take up the colts started into the winter, as you 

 admit, under favorable auspices. The routine of the win- 

 ter season has been explained, and assuming there has 

 been no deviation from the time they got their meals or 

 were turned out for exercise, you may have found it 

 necessary to divide them into four or five lots, some of 

 them being so timid, that the bolder ones drove them 

 away from their feed, and generally showed an arbitrary 

 temper to those who would give way. With all ou** care, 



