350 HORSE POKTKAITUEE. 



nearly as plump as if the seeds were ripe, which will show 

 that it has not been cut till after this dusty era has passed. 

 If the grass stands too long, the woody fibre predominates, 

 and the hay is brittle, tasteless, with only a small part of 

 its nutritive qualities left. Hay sometimes heats, or mow- 

 burns, without showing discoloration enough to detect it 

 from the appearance. To discover this, take up a large 

 handful and hold it to the mouth and nostrils, breathing 

 on it, and if it is injured, a moldy odor will be apparent. 



The evils resulting from using foxy, mowburnt hay, are 

 generally known and guarded against. Horses will eat it 

 greedily, the sweet taste it has acquired from the process 

 of fermentation making it palatable to them when they 

 are first fed with it. I have heard people remark, " That 

 hay does not look very well, but my horses eat it first 

 rate ;" when it has been almost damaged enough to be 

 poisonous. It soon affects the kidneys, causing an excessive 

 flow of urine, which unchecked, would soon end in debility. 

 This seems to occur before there is much derangement 

 of the stomach, though continuing its use would also dis- 

 order that. 



A mixture of Timothy and red-top makes very good 

 hay, and would be my next choice after that wholly con- 

 sisting of the first named. Clover will not do, under any 

 circumstances, no matter how much care has been taken 

 in cutting and curing. It seems to interfere with the action 

 of the respiratory organs, and is inadmissible for horses 

 in training, and can only be used as green food. Corn 

 blades are very valuable as "fodder" for horses in training, 

 and when I wanted a horse in "tip-top-fettle," I would 

 rather pay an exorbitant price than do without them. 

 They ought to be stripped from the stalk when the grain 

 begins to glaze, stuck up in small handfuls on the ears to 

 dry, and when thoroughly cured, bound in small bundles, 

 and stored on a scaffolding, formed of poles placed on the 



