SECRETARY'S REPORT. 197 



moistened with impure sirup from the sugar works and thrive 

 excellently without grain, which perhaps is not to be wondered 

 at, since mare's milk contains a greater amount of sugar than 

 that of any other animal. In many parts of Europe bread is 

 the " staff of life" to both horse and man, and they may often 

 be seen partaking of the same loaf. This bread is made of rye, 

 beans, pease, oats or wheat, either separate or mixed, and is 

 thought to be a cheap and salutary food. In Turkey, opium, 

 in England, ale, in Portugal, wine, and in Austria, arsenic, are 

 employed as stimulants for the purpose of imparting wind and 

 strength on a severe journey, of refreshing an exhausted animal, 

 or for increasing the beauty of the coat and the spirit of the 

 horse. 



The best food for roadsters in this country consists of hay, 

 oats, and carrots, or grass, with a moderate supply of water. 



The quantity of hay depends upon the size and work of the 

 horse, but there is more danger of giving too much than too 

 little. Many horses become broken-winded and cribbers from 

 being allowed to stuff themselves with hay. From eight to ten 

 pounds of the very best and sweetest hay — and nothing is better 

 than good Timothy — is an abundant daily allowance. If it is 

 at all dusty it should be cut and moistened with water. 



The oats should be of the best quality and the quantity may 

 vary from eight to twelve quarts per day. Oats and hay are 

 much improved by age and are not thoroughly ripe and perfect 

 before they are twelve months old. One or two quarts of corn 

 meal will be a valuable addition to the daily food of such 

 horses as are inclined to leanness ; and horses of slow work 

 may be fed upon half corn and half oats, the amount of course 

 depending upon the size of the horse. 



Corn alone is too heating, and produces more fat than mus- 

 cle, and rye is thought to be very dangerous food for roadsters, 

 inducing a condition of the system which often results in 

 founder, especially of the feet. 



Four to eight quarts of carrots, either cut or uncut, fed to a 

 horse once a day produce a charming effect in improving the 

 digestion, preventing diseases of the respiratory organs, and 

 rendering the kidneys suitably active and the hair glossy and 

 smooth. No valuable horse ought to be wintered without roots 

 of some kind, and carrots are by far the best. 



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