84 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



effects when corn is the feed, for we are almost certain 

 that oats without the hay would be a much poorer feed 

 than corn, under similar circumstances. 



By a reference to the analysis of corn, it will be observed 

 that there is little loss from woody fibre or other inert sub- 

 stance, but that it is wholly composed of flesh and fat- 

 forming substances. It is this principle contained in corn 

 that is to be modified and corrected as a feed, and not to 

 be added to by a greater concentration of nutritive matter ; 

 or, in other words, add to the corn materials that do not 

 contain, or at least but in a small degree, those powerful 

 constituents that characterize Indian corn; and for this 

 purpose we will recommend that the corn be in minute 

 division, or ground into meal, to insure a greater diffusion 

 in the stomach, and less concentration than would result 

 by feeding it whole, and not mixed with extraneous matter, 

 as cut hay, or chaff and a little bran. The bran is to pre- 

 vent, or at least modify, the costive or binding and heating 

 effects of the corn ; the chaff or cut hay is to give sufficient 

 bulk to the feed, thereby keeping the bowels moist, and 

 the meal from contraction. At the same time, the horse 

 has a feed before him of which he can eat his fill without 

 producing cramp or colic, which often results from feeding 

 corn whole or in meal, without a sufficient mixture or 

 bulk being given to it. It is the want of this knowledge, 

 together with the extra trouble in cutting hay and mixing 

 such a feed, that forms the chief argument of some stable- 

 men against feeding with corn and in favor of oats. A 



